Keran, Jammu and Kashmir: While families across India light diyas, share sweets, and burst crackers to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, the soldiers of the Indian Army stationed along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Keran Sector mark the occasion in their own way.

Even on festive nights, these jawans continue to guard the country's borders at an elevation of more than 12,000 feet above sea level, where icy winds blow across the rocky mountains. Their hearts are with their families, but their duty keeps them rooted to the borders.

Kailash, an army personnel deployed at the Keran sector in Kupwara, says, “It feels really good because I consider myself very fortunate to wear this uniform and protect the motherland. It feels nice to know that while we are here safeguarding the nation, our fellow citizens are able to celebrate a safe Diwali back home. As long as our soldiers are stationed at the borders, everyone can celebrate Diwali happily and peacefully; that’s my message to all.”

For Ahauldalal Singh, festivals may come and go, but duty always comes first. “Holi and Diwali come every year, but guarding the borders is our first priority. We too celebrate Holi and Diwalii, once our duty is over, we celebrate with our loved ones. We miss our families; it’s not that we don’t , but our top priority is to keep the borders of our country safe and secure.”

Pankaj Singh, another soldier posted at Keran, shares, “For us, protecting the nation’s borders comes first — festivals like Diwali keep happening. During duty, we stand guard here, and later, we celebrate with our fellow soldiers and seniors; that’s our Diwali. Yes, we miss our families, but what can we do? Where I stand now is my duty, and this is my family; my brothers and sisters are here with me. So I don’t really feel alone, and celebrating with them becomes our Diwali.”

For Kamaljeet Singh, pride overshadows distance. “Right now, I am on duty, and because of that, my brothers and family members back home are able to celebrate Diwali. That makes me feel really good and fills me with pride.”

And even these icy heights come alive with the warmth of duty. Soldiers gather under the starlit sky, around flickering bonfires, singing, clapping, and dancing together. Their laughter echoes through the valley as they share sweets and light diyas made from recycled tins.

Dhirendra Rathudi describes the scene fondly: "Just a short while ago, I arrived here among my fellow soldiers and seniors and saw everyone celebrating Diwali together. I mingled with them and became part of the celebration. It felt really good. I felt like my family was right here with me, and I didn’t miss them as much. It felt just like celebrating with family. The only difference was that there were no fireworks, because we’re deployed in a location where we have to stay alert and be mindful of the other side."

Meanwhile another soldier summed up their spirit simply: "Diwali and Holi are not our priorities. We are deployed here for defence and are guarding the borders. That’s why our brothers and sisters back home can sleep peacefully. That’s the meaning behind the quote: 'Na Holi, Na Diwali, Hamara Main Mudda Hai Iss Seema Ki Rakhwali' (neither Holi nor Diwali, our main concern, is guarding the border). This is an operational location, so celebrating Diwali with fireworks isn't possible. We try to light lamps or celebrate in innovative ways; as you can see, we've created small torches in small tins. Since it's the festival of lights, we try to honour it in this way. Our Diwali remains a silent one."

As millions of homes across India glow with festive lights, the soldiers standing guard on the icy frontiers ensure that every citizen can celebrate in safety and peace, their silent Diwali shining brighter than any firecracker.