Agartala, April 9 (). Participants of the Army’s 22-day pan-northeast car rally, Northeast India Parikrama, were welcomed with a grand ceremony in Tripura on Saturday.
The car rally, which was flagged off at Fort Williams in Kolkata on March 22, aims to reach out to youth, freedom fighters, gallantry award winners, families of martyrs and general public in the North Eastern region.
Several programs were organized as a part of the reception, including tributes to freedom fighters and martyr heroes, felicitation of Veer Naris and war veterans, motivational speech by Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav (Kargil War) awarded with Param Vir Chakra Was.
The team also motivated local students and NCC cadets by distributing school bags and stationery items.
A wreath-laying ceremony and several other events were held at the Albert Ekka War Memorial on the outskirts of Agartala city.
Lance Naik Albert Ekka, who hailed from Jharkhand and was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, died in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
Defense sources said the 22-day long car rally is covering a total distance of about 4,000 kms in 8 northeastern states – Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya, starting from the peak area of Nathu. passes through -La in Sikkim, Se-La Tunnel and Bum-La in Arunachal Pradesh, War Memorial in Kohima and many other historical places.
He said that the Northeast India Parikrama is part of the year-long platinum jubilee of India’s Independence, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, which showcases the country’s journey and achievements of its people over the past 75 years.
Sources said, the aim of the car rally is to strengthen nationalism and motivate the youth to join the Indian Army. The initiative will serve as a unique platform to showcase the cultural diversity of the North Eastern region, encourage tourism and strengthen the bond between the people of the eight states.
A series of motivational programs were organized in various schools and colleges during the rally’s journey.
The rally, comprising 38 members and 10 vehicles, will culminate at Umroi in Meghalaya on April 12.
The National Project of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is being implemented in collaboration with the North Eastern Council under the Department of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India.
SGK
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