On Independence Day, Red Fort’s portrayal of Operation Sindoor takes center stage.

Operation Sindoor, the military offensive carried out by Indian defense forces in May of this year, was the event’s high point, even if the 79th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort had “Naya Bharat” (New India) as its subject. Both the venue’s décor and the prime minister’s remarks were interspersed with hints of Operation Sindoor. When viewed from above, volunteers wearing orange and white costumes formed the words “Naya Bharat” against the backdrop of a giant banner that read “Nation First” with the Operation Sindoor insignia in the upper right corner.

The official invitation cards for the occasion also featured the operation’s emblem. One of the decorations was a floral collage that said “Operation Sindoor” and was embellished with crimson sindoor motifs.

Two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters, one flying the tricolor and the other the Operation Sindoor flag, hovered above the Red Fort as the national flag was unfurled, showering the area with flower petals. Wing Commanders Vinay Poonia and Aditya Jaiswal piloted the aircraft.

The gesture was meant to honor Operation Sindoor, which was conducted from May 7 to May 10 in response to the Pahalgam incident on April 22 that claimed the lives of 26 people—25 Indians and 1 Nepali.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed to the Red Fort by the three service chiefs who oversaw the operation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and the leaders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force joined the PM at the ramparts after the Guard of Honour was inspected.

During his nearly ninety-minute speech, Prime Minister Modi declared that India would stop nuclear blackmail and put an end to the “injustice” of the Indus Waters Treaty.

“India has decided that blood and water won’t flow together,” said the PM.

“The entire nation was seething with anger, and the whole world watched in astonishment. Operation Sindoor emerged from that anger. After April 22, we told our soldiers they had a free hand to decide, plan, time, and choose their targets. Our defence forces did what had never been done before: they went several kilometres into Pakistan and destroyed terrorist camps,” PM Modi said .