MUMBAI: The Indian Army will mark 13th anniversary celebrations of its landmark victory over Kargil with a series of musical events.
Renowned musical trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy along with singer Akriti Kakkar and director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra will perform a stage show as part of the anniversary commemoration. The two day event will witness a wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial, sainik samelan (soldiers meet), memorial service and band display.
Speaking about the concert with Radioandmusic.com, Kakkar said, “We will perform for the jawaans at Tiger Hill and though we have not planned anything yet, we would love to sing to their requests. They mostly don’t have any source of entertainment so performing for them is such a huge honour. I feel that I am doing something good for the nation. Sharing the stage with SEL is a double treat as performing with them has always been a great experience.”
Mahadevan tweeted, “Its Gonne Be A Once In A Lifetime Experience!!”
The anniversary celebrations will be held tomorrow at the war memorial in Drass sub-sector of Kargil region in Jammu and Kashmir.
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army’s Northern Command Lt Gen K T Parnaik and MP Naveen Jindal will be the chief guests at the anniversary events. Widows and relatives of the soldiers who lost their lives in Kargil, Mushkok, Batalik and Drass will also be present at the event.
Kargil war which began in May 1999, lasted for more than two months before Pakistani soldiers, drawn from its Northern Light Infantry and irregulars withdrew from the mountain tops they had occupied overlooking the Srinagar-Leh highway. In the battle with the Pakistani forces and irregulars, the Indian Army lost 490 officers, soldiers and jawans, many of whom were posthumously felicitated with gallantry awards.