- From Okha to Veraval, Coast Guard personnel carry the national flag into fishing communities, streets and coastal stretches in a spirited tribute to 80 years of India’s Independence
- Tiranga Runs, Walkathons and bike rallies turn Gujarat’s coastline into a vibrant canvas of patriotism, bringing together Coast Guard personnel, fishermen, students, NCC cadets and security forces
- A 130-km Porbandar-Madhavpur rally combines national pride with lifesaving outreach, equipping coastal communities with CPR and emergency-response skills
- From safeguarding maritime borders to inspiring young minds, ICG’s Har Ghar Tiranga outreach reinforces its enduring motto: “Vayam Rakshamah — We Protect”
NE DEFENCE BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, AUG 19
As the Tricolour swept across Gujarat’s maritime frontier, the Indian Coast Guard transformed the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign into a powerful celebration of patriotism, community partnership and national service, carrying the spirit of the 80th Independence Day from the fishing hamlets of Okha to the sacred shores of Somnath and the coastal expanse stretching from Porbandar to Madhavpur.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Regional Headquarters (North West) and its units under command organised a series of patriotic and community-oriented programmes from August 9 to 17, 2026, in consonance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. The initiatives brought together Coast Guard personnel, fishermen, students, NCC cadets, security forces and local communities in a collective reaffirmation of national unity and pride.
At Okha, the 69 ACV Squadron, under the aegis of Coast Guard District Headquarters-15 (CGDHQ-15), took the Tricolour directly to the homes of fishermen through a Community Interaction Programme. Coast Guard personnel distributed National Flags among fishing families, strengthening the bond with communities that remain the force’s crucial partners along India’s maritime frontier.
The initiative also underscored the vital role of fishermen as the “eyes and ears” of the Indian Coast Guard along the country’s vast coastline, while reinforcing a shared commitment to national security, unity and pride.
At Porbandar, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 1 organised a Tiranga Run at the Asmavati Riverfront, drawing enthusiastic participation from ICG personnel, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) representatives, local security forces, students and NCC cadets.
The convergence of personnel from different agencies and sections of society reflected the unifying power of the National Flag and the collective spirit behind the Independence Day celebrations.
At Somnath, the Indian Coast Guard Station Veraval organised a Tiranga Walkathon along Somnath Beach, with the sacred Somnath Temple providing a majestic backdrop. ICG personnel marched along the shoreline with the National Flag held aloft, creating a stirring spectacle of devotion to the nation and its constitutional ideals.
In Gandhinagar, the Indian Coast Guard Station organised a Bike Rally, flagged off from the iconic Swarnim Park. The rally passed through prominent stretches of Gujarat’s capital before returning to its starting point, symbolising the Coast Guard’s unwavering commitment to the Motherland.
The campaign reached its most ambitious scale with a 130-kilometre Coastal Bike Rally from Porbandar to Madhavpur Beach, organised by Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 1, Porbandar. Thirty bikers, accompanied by 20 NCC cadets riding pillion, traversed Gujarat’s coastal highways in a spirited tribute to eight decades of India’s Independence.
The rally was graced by DIG SSN Bajpai, District Commander, CGDHQ-1, Porbandar, and Bhagwanjibhai Karagatiya, MLA, Mangrol, besides local dignitaries and representatives of the fishing community.
Yet, the Porbandar-Madhavpur rally went beyond symbolism. At Madhavpur Beach, the Coast Guard conducted a Community Interaction Programme for fishermen, sensitising them on the use of life-saving equipment and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) procedures. The outreach sought to equip members of the coastal community with potentially lifesaving skills that could prove crucial during emergencies at sea.
The Independence Day outreach also extended to the younger generation. The 69 ACV Squadron, Okha, coordinated a visit by students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Okha, to the unit. The students were familiarised with the Indian Coast Guard’s roles and responsibilities in protecting India’s maritime borders, strengthening coastal security and serving the nation.
The interaction provided the youngsters with a firsthand glimpse into the demanding responsibilities of the maritime force and sought to nurture an enduring connection between the Coast Guard and the youth.
From a Tiranga Run at Porbandar and a Walkathon at Somnath to city and coastal bike rallies, flag distribution among fishing families and school outreach, the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign became a broad-based expression of patriotism across Gujarat’s coastline.
The programmes demonstrated that the Indian Coast Guard’s commitment to the nation extends far beyond patrolling the seas. It reaches the fishing communities, engages the youth, promotes lifesaving awareness and builds stronger bonds with citizens living along India’s strategic maritime frontier.
The campaign culminated as a collective reaffirmation of the Indian Coast Guard’s enduring motto — “Vayam Rakshamah — We Protect.”
