Kargil Vijay Diwas 2019: Date And Significance of the Day to Commemorate the Sacrifices of the 1999 Kargil War Heroes

Kargil Vijay Diwas is named after the success of Operation Vijay or the Kargil War. It is observed every year on July 26 and the year 2019 will mark the 20th anniversary of India's win in the conflict. Kargil Vijay Diwas marks the success of Operation Vijay wherein brave soldiers of the Indian Army overcame seemingly huge obstacles, hostile terrain, weather, and a strong enemy to win the Kargil war against Pakistan. Vishal Batra, Brother of Captain Vikram Batra, Climbs 16,000-Foot-High Mountain to Pay Tribute to Kargil War Hero.

The theme for the 20th anniversary of the 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' is - 'Remember, Rejoice and Renew'. To make this occasion big, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has written to chief ministers of all states urging them to participate in the celebrations of 20 years of the Kargil War victory by organising events alongside those planned by the Centre.

When is Kargil Diwas Celebrated?

Kargil Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26 to pay tribute and remember the sacrifice of the soldiers who lost their lives in the 1999 Kargil War.

What is the significance of Kargil Vijay Diwas?

On 26 July 1999, India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been taken over by Pakistani intruders. Celebrations in the country take place to commemorate the 500 Indian war heroes who sacrificed their lives trying to drive out Pakistani intruders.

In 1999, Pakistan had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) surreptitiously and erected camps on hilltops in Kargil. Tashi Namgyal, a shepherd from Garkhon village first spotted the intruders at Jubar ridgeline in Batalik, and the matter first came to the light on May 3.

Namgyal had gone looking for his lost yak and then with the help of his binoculars, he saw six soldiers dressed in black Pathani outfits had crossed the LOC. He soon alerted the Indian Army because his suspicion was strong enough that they were Pakistan army people.

The Indian Army found out that the majority of the intruders were soldiers from the Northern Light Infantry of the Pakistan Army and the war was declared. By the end of the war, Pakistan had to withdraw under international pressure and due to pressure from continued fighting at the battlefront and left India in control of all territory south and east of the LOC, as was established in July 1972 as per the Simla Agreement.

Like every war, several lives were lost in Kargil war as well. The official death toll on the Indian side was 527, while that on the Pakistani side was between 357 and 453. On July 26, 1999, Kargil war ended and India emerged victoriously. The day is observed as Kargil Vijay Diwas in commemoration of India's victory over Pakistan in the short war.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 23, 2019 04:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).