India celebrates Kargil Vijay Diwas every year on July 26 commemorating the country's victory in the 1999 Kargil War against Pakistan. This day we remember the valour and courage of the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives for the nation. July 26 marks the conclusion of the war that lasted for two months against Pakistan which took place in the Kargil-Drass sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Know as Operation Vijay; the war was a tough one that was held in one of the toughest high-altitude battles.

The Indian Army on July 26, 1999, successfully recaptured the position that Pakistani intruders had treacherously occupied. However, the war killed 559 of our brave soldiers and left 1563 injured. Every year, the army organises various functions and events in July in the memory of the slain soldiers. Meanwhile, Twitterati is abuzz with messages paying tribute to the martyrs.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat today paid tributes to the soldiers who died in the conflict. On the eve of the Kargil Vijay Diwas, Rawat said, "Showing exemplary courage in Kargil, Indian soldiers pushed back infiltrators across the borders despite severe odds making the entire world acknowledge their valour."

Popular sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand art in remembrance of the soldiers:

Marking the 19th anniversary of Kargil Diwas, Indian Army's bikers 'Shwet Ashw' have already set off on a 4,300 km expedition and have completed 3250km across eight states.

Major General Sanjeev Narain, General Officer Commanding, Karnataka and Kerala sub-area, flagged off the expedition. The five-member team will cover eight states and pass through places like Belgaum, Pune, Mumbai, Vadodara, Udaipur, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Manali, Sarchu and Leh before reaching Kargil War Memorial to take part in Vijay Divas celebrations that began on July 24.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2018 09:26 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).