Mumbai, December 03: Ahead of the Navy Day on December 4, the Indian Navy on Sunday put a glittering show at the Gateway of India in Mumbai. The iconic Gateway was lit with colours of the national flag. While rehearsing for the ‘Beating the Retreat’, soldiers of the Indian Navy marched below the monument in white uniforms. A Navy helicopter also hovered slowly over the monument. The soldiers threw rifles in the air with fire on their barrels, and a soldier walked under it. A large number of people came to see the rehearsal. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba to Visit Russia to Strengthen Defence Co-operation

Navy Day is celebrated every December 4 to commemorate the start of Operation Trident during the India-Pakistan War of 1971. On December 4, 1971, the Indian Navy attacked the Karachi harbour. The navy sank three Pakistani vessels near Karachi during the operation. It was the first that India used anti-ship missiles.

Watch video of soldiers of the Indian Navy rehearsing for the 'Beating for Retreat'

Ahead of the Navy Day, Admiral Sunil Lanba today addressed media and stressed on the need of modernisation of the Indian Navy. He also backed the ‘Make in India’ campaign. The naval chief said that the navy would induct 32 indigenously build ships.  Speaking about new aircraft carrier Vikrant, Admiral Lanba said that the trials were going on in third and final stage in Kochi. Meanwhile, the navy will also induct six new submarines, and the trials of second-class scorpion submarine have also been completed.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 03, 2018 03:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).