Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday flagged off the 13-day ‘Shaurya Vijay Yatra’ from the National War Memorial in New Delhi as part of the nationwide commemoration of Kargil Vijay Diwas 2026. Held under the motto ‘One Ride, One Nation, One Salute’, the 1,900-km expedition features 28 riders, including serving and retired defence personnel and next of kin of Kargil martyrs, travelling on Jawa and Yezdi motorcycles to the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Ladakh. The yatra will conclude on July 26 after passing through the Chandimandir, Rezang La and Leh War Memorials.
The expedition is carrying sacred soil from the National War Memorial to Kargil, symbolising the link between generations of Indian war heroes. Riders will also felicitate Veer Naris in recognition of their resilience and sacrifice. The ceremony was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General N. S. Raja Subramani, Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, senior military officials, veterans and NCC cadets.
Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh paid tribute to the soldiers who secured India’s victory in the 1999 Kargil War and remembered ParamVir Chakra awardees Captain VikramBatra, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav (Retd) and Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Sanjay Kumar (Retd).
In Kolkata, the event is expected to reinforce interest in premium and adventure motorcycles among enthusiasts in eastern India. Industry observers believe tribute rides and defence-themed expeditions help strengthen the appeal of heritage motorcycle brands such as Jawa and Yezdi, with dealerships in Kolkata likely to benefit from heightened consumer engagement during the Kargil Vijay Diwas campaign period.
JawaYezdi Motorcycles launched the Shaurya Vijay Yatra in 2021 to connect the motorcycling community with the stories of India’s armed forces. This year’s expedition is being undertaken on the Jawa 350, 42, 42 FJ, and the Yezdi Adventure and Scrambler models. Co-founder of Classic Legends, AnupamThareja, said the initiative aims to inspire younger generations with the values of valour, discipline, resolve and selfless service while paying homage to the nation’s bravehearts.