Photograph: Courtesy @rashtrapatibhvn/Twitter
President Ram Nath Kovind broke away from tradition and had ‘bada Khana’ with the soldiers and their families in Udhampur on the occasion of Mahanavami, the culmination of the nine-day-long Navratri.
It was way of reaching out to the Army’s Northern Command troops looking after the operational area of Jammu and Kashmir.
The President began his visit to the region from the Union Territory of Ladakh, where he performed the Sindhu Darshan puja at the Sindhu Ghat in Leh, officials said.
The Sindhu riverbank, known for its beautiful and scenic landscape, is situated near Shey village in Leh and is hosting a multitude of cultural programmes, including the Sindhu Darshan festival.
The President interacted with the troops and their families amid ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogans raised by the soldiers. He enquired about the welfare of the troops and gave a chocolate to the child of a jawan, reported PTI.
On the occasion of Mahanavami, the president had ‘bada khana‘ with the troops and their families, the officials said.
Patriotic songs were sung by boys and girls at the venue and the troops of the Army’s Sikh regiment showcased their martial arts skills before the President.
Kovind will celebrate Dussehra with the soldiers of the Indian Army in Ladakh’s Drass area, one of the coldest places in the world.
