In pics | A lookback at PM Narendra Modi's Diwali celebrations with the armed forces

1/11: Carrying forward his tradition of celebrating Diwali with soldiers guarding the frontline, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday, November 12, observed Diwali festivities at Lepcha, Himachal Pradesh. / Image: X

2/11: Since Narendra Modi assumed the office of prime minister on May 26, 2014, he has been celebrating Diwali with the security forces in the capacity of the country’s prime minister. / Image: X

3/11: The trend began in 2014, when the prime minister made a surprise visit to Siachen glacier- the world's highest battlefield and celebrated Diwali with the security personnel posted there. / Image: PMOIndia

4/11: In 2015, PM Modi paid a visit to 3 war memorials in Punjab to commemorate the valour of India’s military in the 1965 war with Pakistan- Dograi War memorial, Barki War memorial & Asal Uttar. / Image: PTI

5/11: After marking India’s victory against Pakistan, PM Modi celebrated Diwali with the personnel of Indian Army and ITBP deployed at the Indo-China border in Himachal Pradesh’s Sumdo. / Image: PMOIndia

6/11: PM Modi celebrated Diwali with the personnel of the Border Security Forces (BSF) and the Indian Army in Gurez Valley near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017. / Image: PMOIndia

7/11: In 2018, Prime Minister observed the festivities with ITBP and the Indian Army at Harsil sector in Uttarakhand. / Image: PMOIndia

8/11: As he returned for a second term with a massive mandate in 2019 parliamentary elections, PM Modi visited jawans and officers of the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district for Diwali. / Image: X/ @NarendraModi

9/11: Even during the deadly coronavirus pandemic, the prime minister continued his tradition and spent his entire day on Diwali with forces in Longewala in Rajasthan. / Image: PMOIndia

10/11: In 2021, PM celebrated his Diwali along the LoC in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir. He shared photos of him sharing sweets with the personnel of forces. / Image: X/ @NarendraModi

11/11: In 2022, Diwali celebration became the source of prime minister’s iconic photograph of him inspecting an assault rifle. He celebrated the festival with personnel at Jammu and Kashmir’s Kargil. / Image: ANI