New Delhi, March 24 - Defense Minister Rajnath Singh marked the festival of colors, Holi, by celebrating with armed forces personnel stationed in Leh, Ladakh, near the China border. Despite initially planning to visit soldiers at Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, Rajnath Singh's itinerary changed due to adverse weather conditions.

During the celebration, the Defense Minister applied colors to the soldiers and offered them sweets, extending his warm wishes for the festival. He emphasized the soldiers' role as protectors, likening them to guardian deities, saying, "While protecting us from enemies, all the soldiers are also no less than protector gods for us."

Rajnath Singh has a tradition of celebrating festivals with the armed forces, having previously marked Diwali and Holi at various border outposts. Last year, he celebrated Holi with sailors on the INS 'Vikrant,' India's indigenous aircraft carrier. Expressing his regret for not being able to visit Siachen this year, he conveyed his Holi wishes to the soldiers there from Leh.

Addressing the soldiers, the Defense Minister expressed profound admiration for their courage and sacrifice, especially in challenging environments like Siachen and Kargil. He praised their unwavering commitment to duty, highlighting their pivotal role in safeguarding the nation's security.

Rajnath Singh concluded his address by stating, "The country will always be indebted to you for demonstrating this unwavering willpower. In times to come, when the history of national security is written, your acts of bravery that brought boiling water to the icy cold glacier will be remembered with pride."