The Rajnath Singh Diwali Sikkim visit on Sunday took the Defence Minister to Sherathang, near Nathu La, where he celebrated Deepawali with soldiers of the Trishakti Corps (33 Corps) deployed in the forward areas.

He was accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lieutenant General VMB Krishnan, General Officer Commanding, 33 Corps, Lieutenant General Man Raj Singh Mann, and other senior officers of the Indian Army.

Rajnath Singh called the troops the brightest lights of Diwali, saying their vigilance at the borders keeps the nation secure.

"Like a lamp which dispels darkness without seeking attention, soldiers perform their duties silently, ensuring that citizens can celebrate festivals with peace and security," he said.

Defence Minister praises troops guarding high-altitude borders

The Defence Minister commended the soldiers for their professionalism, high morale and steadfast commitment to safeguarding the nation's borders in challenging high-altitude conditions. He urged them to keep protecting the motherland with the same enthusiasm and dedication.

He acknowledged soldiers who serve far from their families and put duty to the nation above their own celebrations, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The Trishakti Corps, headquartered at Sukna in north Bengal, is responsible for Sikkim and the ground around the Siliguri Corridor. General Dhiraj Seth reviewed the formation's operational preparedness during his Eastern Command tour in July. Sherathang lies on the road to Nathu La, the pass on the India-China boundary in East Sikkim.

Discipline and courage matter more than technology, says Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh told the troops that however advanced technology may become, it is of little use if a soldier lacks discipline and courage.

He then turned to how the Army is seen in border villages. The conduct, uniform, language and restraint of personnel shape the image of the military among local communities, the Defence Minister said. He urged the soldiers to keep strengthening the bond of trust and goodwill between the Indian Army and the people of Sherathang and the surrounding areas.

Soldiers told to speak openly about stress at Sukna

The Rajnath Singh Diwali Sikkim trip began at the Trishakti Corps headquarters in Sukna, near Siliguri, where General Dhiraj Seth and Lieutenant General Man Raj Singh Mann received him. He joined the troops there for a Bada Khana.

"Comrades, I haven't come here on a formal visit as the Defence Minister; rather, I have come to share the joys of Deepawali with my family members," he said.

"Every year on the occasion of Deepawali, I go among our soldiers," he added.

He asked the soldiers to look after their mental health and not to hold back feelings of stress, homesickness or work pressure. "All of this is normal. But do not bottle it up inside. Talk openly with your colleagues. We are all each other's support system," he said.

Hybrid warfare, proxy wars, cyberattacks, drone incursions and information warfare now come at once, he said, so a soldier's duty today includes staying alert to threats beyond conventional combat.

Rajnath Singh Diwali Sikkim tribute at Sherathang War Memorial

At Sherathang, Rajnath Singh paid homage at the war memorial to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.

Such monuments do more than commemorate past events, he said. They shape collective memory and awaken national consciousness and pride. The soldiers honoured at Sherathang came from different parts of the country, including Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Assam, and laid down their lives to protect the people irrespective of region, language or community. That spirit of unity and selfless service, the Defence Minister said, is the soul of India, where every citizen sees fellow Indians as members of one family.

Respects paid at Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial

The Defence Minister also visited the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial, honouring a soldier of the Punjab Regiment who died near Nathu La in 1968. His legacy continues to hold a special place in the military and civil traditions of the region, the ministry said.

Around 26,000 names inscribed at National War Memorial

Rajnath Singh said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi built the National War Memorial in New Delhi to honour the fallen. He has paid similar tribute this year at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras.

"Approximately 26,000 names of the fallen heroes have been inscribed in golden letters at the National War Memorial to honour their unmatched valour and sacrifice," he said.

The Indian Army soldiers at Sherathang heard him describe what that means to the families left behind. "Seeing the name of a fallen soldier at the memorial evokes a deep sense of pride among their families, relatives and people from their native villages and regions. These memorials serve as sources of inspiration for the present and future generations," the Defence Minister said.