PM Modi to celebrate Diwali with security forces in Bastar, Chhattisgarh
Synopsis
PM Modi is heading to Bastar — once the heartland of Naxal violence — to celebrate Diwali with security forces, turning a personal decade-long tradition into a pointed statement about the state's reclamation of one of India's most conflict-scarred regions. It is both a morale boost for deployed personnel and a political signal about how far the ground reality in Chhattisgarh has shifted.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi will celebrate Diwali 2026 with security personnel in Bastar, Chhattisgarh .
Modi announced the visit on X , calling Bastar an area 'where Naxalism once held sway, and now, development is flourishing.' The tradition of spending Diwali with armed or security forces spans over a decade , covering postings from Siachen to Kargil to INS Vikrant .
In 2025 , Modi celebrated Diwali aboard INS Vikrant off the Goa-Karwar coast — his first with the Indian Navy.
Bastar is historically one of India's most Naxal-affected regions; the visit underlines the Centre's claim of a security and developmental turnaround.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate Diwali 2026 with security personnel deployed in Bastar, Chhattisgarh — a region long defined by Maoist insurgency — in what the Prime Minister described as a salute to the forces whose sacrifices have helped transform the area. The visit underscores the Centre's narrative of a shifting ground reality in one of India's most conflict-affected zones.
What Modi Said
Announcing the visit on social media platform X, Modi wrote: 'Heading to Bastar to celebrate Diwali with our brave security forces. This is an area where Naxalism once held sway, and now, development is flourishing.' He added: 'I am going to salute our brave security personnel for their sacrifices, selfless service and unwavering devotion to the nation.'
Bastar's Transformation in Focus
Bastar has historically been among India's most volatile Naxal-affected districts, with decades of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) hampering governance, infrastructure, and civilian life. The choice of location is deliberate — it signals the government's assertion that security operations, infrastructure investment, and administrative outreach have collectively tilted the balance. Notably, anti-Naxal operations in the region have recorded significant gains in recent years, with security forces neutralising a large number of Maoist cadres and opening corridors for developmental activity.
A Decade-Long Diwali Tradition
For over a decade, Prime Minister Modi has made it a personal tradition to spend Diwali with the country's armed and security forces at India's most challenging postings. The roster reads like a map of the nation's toughest frontiers:
His first Diwali as Prime Minister in 2014 was spent with troops at the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield. Subsequent years took him to the Punjab border (2015), Sumdoh near the China border in Himachal Pradesh (2016), the Gurez sector in North Kashmir (2017), Harsil in Uttarakhand (2018), Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir (2019), Longewala in Rajasthan (2020), Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir (2021), Kargil in Ladakh (2022), Lepcha in Himachal Pradesh (2023), and Sir Creek in Gujarat (2024).
In 2025, Modi celebrated Diwali aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, positioned off the Goa-Karwar coast — marking his first Diwali with the Indian Navy. He had originally commissioned INS Vikrant at Cochin Shipyard Limited on 2 September 2022.
The Signal Behind the Choice
Each destination in this tradition has carried a political and strategic message — Siachen asserted India's presence at the world's most extreme military post; Longewala invoked the memory of the 1971 war; INS Vikrant celebrated indigenous naval capability. Bastar in 2026 extends that messaging to the internal security domain: a declaration that the state has reclaimed territory once ceded to insurgency. The visit is expected to boost morale among the tens of thousands of paramilitary and state police personnel deployed across Bastar's jungle terrain.
Point of View
Yet large swathes of Bastar remain under-served on healthcare, education, and livelihood metrics. Modi's visit will dominate the day's optics, but the harder question is whether the security gains have been matched by the development momentum his X post promises. The decade-long tradition of Diwali at the frontier has become a powerful piece of political communication — and Bastar, as a choice, is arguably the most pointed one yet.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is PM Modi celebrating Diwali in 2026?
PM Modi is celebrating Diwali 2026 in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, with security forces deployed in the region. He announced the visit on X, citing the area's transformation from Naxal-affected terrain to a zone of active development.
Why did PM Modi choose Bastar for Diwali?
Modi chose Bastar to highlight the security and developmental transformation of a region historically dominated by Maoist insurgency. The visit is both a morale booster for deployed personnel and a political statement about the Centre's anti-Naxal and development push.
How long has PM Modi been celebrating Diwali with the armed forces?
PM Modi has celebrated Diwali with the armed or security forces for over a decade, beginning with troops at the Siachen Glacier in 2014. Each year he visits a different challenging posting, from Kashmir and Ladakh to Rajasthan's desert and, in 2025, INS Vikrant at sea.
Where did PM Modi celebrate Diwali in 2025?
In 2025, PM Modi celebrated Diwali aboard INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, positioned off the Goa-Karwar coast. It was his first Diwali celebration specifically with the Indian Navy.
What is the significance of Bastar in the context of Naxalism?
Bastar in Chhattisgarh has been one of India's most Naxal-affected regions for decades, with Left Wing Extremism historically hampering governance and development. Recent years have seen significant security gains, with the government claiming a turnaround in both counter-insurgency operations and infrastructure development.
