With national pride surging through its streets, Bhopal came alive with a verdant display of saffron, white and green on Thursday, as hundreds participated in the 'Tiranga Yatra' to honour the valour of Operation Sindoor—India’s swift and decisive response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
The march began at Roshanpura Square and culminated at the statue of late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav officially launched the procession.
Clutching the Tricolour in one hand and placards in the other, participants raised resonant slogans like “Tirange ke sammaan mein, saara Bhopal maidan meinâ€, as the city united in an outpouring of patriotic spirit.
Local resident Saifuddin arrived on a scooter, wrapped in the national colours, and declared, “Our city is brimming with patriots—and I’m proud to be one of them. Our Armed Forces now pursue our enemies to their hideouts and destroy them. This is a renewed, fearless India.â€
Children from Year 3 to Year 12 waved the flag with pride, echoing slogans with the crowd. The city’s youth added their voices with chants like, “Who will defend the nation? We will! We will!†Aspiring athletes and their coaches also joined, infusing the march with fresh energy and purpose.
At New Market Square, three friends in scout-guide uniforms—Rajendra, Rishi and Ankit—stood proudly near a barricade. “We’ve come to support the system in whatever way we can,†they said.
Among the most striking figures was ex-para commando Ashok Hindustani, wearing an army cap, tricolour-painted cheeks, and a shirt that read ‘India’. Holding an eight-metre-long national flag, he remarked, “I usually skip rallies. But this time, our daughters—Sofia Qureshi and Vyomika Singh—have boldly confronted the enemy. The world has taken notice. This is a moment of immense national pride.â€
Nearby, Girish Guptchandani of Narela helped carry a massive flag. “I’ve never seen such unity,†he said. “The enemy tried to divide us, but instead, they’ve united us—like a clenched fist.â€
Mamta, who attended the march with her five-year-old son Aniket, called the day “a festivalâ€. She added, “People from all communities are here. This is India—unity in diversity.†As she spoke, Aniket gleefully chanted, “India! India! India!â€
From among a group of homemakers, Richa spoke with fire in her voice. “The terrorists shattered the sindoor of a newlywed bride in Pahalgam. One even taunted, ‘Go tell Modi.’ Now our daughters have answered in the only language cowards understand.â€
Local leaders, business associations, hotel staff and the New Market Traders’ Protection Committee welcomed marchers with garlands and flowers. Though traffic was diverted between Roshanpura and Shastri Square, commuters bore the delay with grace. “We’re happy to wait if it’s for the unity of the nation,†one of them said.
Security remained tight, with heavy barricading and officers from several departments managing the crowds. Women and girls led the march, with police and social workers holding ropes to maintain order and safety along the route.
As dusk fell, the city’s skyline shimmered with flags, and the air rang with chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai!†The Tiranga Yatra didn’t just commemorate a military triumph—it reflected the enduring spirit of a united India: proud, resolute and unshaken.
