About Indian Navy Day
Indian Navy Day, or Nausena Diwas, is observed on 4 December to mark Operation Trident, the Indian Navy's missile-boat attack on Karachi harbour on the night of 4–5 December 1971. It honours the Navy's sailors, officers and veterans and ends Navy Week. In 2026 it falls on Friday, 4 December 2026.
Navy Day has not always been on 4 December. The Royal Indian Navy first held one on 21 October 1944, to match Britain's Trafalgar Day, and after the war it moved to 1 December and then to 15 December. In May 1972, the Navy's senior officers moved it to 4 December so that it would mark the Indian Navy's own victory rather than a British one.
What happened in Operation Trident?
Operation Trident was the Indian Navy's strike on Karachi, Pakistan's main naval base and port, on the night of 4–5 December 1971, the day after the India–Pakistan war formally began. A small task group under Commander Babru Bhan Yadav, led by three Soviet-built missile boats, INS Nipat, INS Nirghat and INS Veer, with the corvettes INS Kiltan and INS Katchall and the tanker INS Poshak in support, crossed to within range and fired Styx anti-ship missiles.
The strike sank the destroyer PNS Khaibar, the minesweeper PNS Muhafiz and the cargo ship MV Venus Challenger, badly damaged the destroyer PNS Shah Jahan, and set Karachi's fuel tanks on fire. It was the first use of anti-ship missiles in combat in the region, and no Indian sailor was killed. Four nights later, Operation Python struck Karachi again. Radio traffic during the operation is said to have been conducted in Russian to confuse listeners.
Navy Day is also a day to remember the Navy's losses. On 9 December 1971 the frigate INS Khukri was torpedoed by the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor off Diu. Eighteen officers and 176 sailors died. Her commanding officer, Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, gave away his own life jacket, stayed on board to direct the rescue, and went down with his ship. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously. A memorial to the Khukri stands at Diu.
How is Indian Navy Day celebrated?
Navy Day is celebrated as the end of Navy Week, which runs from 1 to 7 December, with events at naval bases and, in recent years, a large public demonstration away from the main bases.
| Year | Venue of the operational demonstration | Chief guest |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tarkarli beach, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra | Prime Minister Narendra Modi |
| 2024 | Blue Flag beach, Puri, Odisha | President Droupadi Murmu |
| 2025 | Shangumugham beach, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | President Droupadi Murmu |
The demonstrations show warships, submarines, aircraft and the Navy's marine commandos, MARCOS, in action off the coast, and are broadcast on Doordarshan. Sindhudurg, the 2023 venue, is home to a sea fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Elsewhere during Navy Week, the Navy holds Beating Retreat and Tattoo ceremonies, including one at the Gateway of India in Mumbai, opens ships to visitors and schoolchildren, and organises sea swimming events, a Navy half marathon, band concerts, blood donation camps and quizzes for schools. Wreaths are laid at war memorials.
What should you know about the Indian Navy?
The Indian Navy traces its roots to 1612, when the East India Company raised a small marine force. It was the Royal Indian Navy from 1934 and dropped "Royal" on 26 January 1950, when India became a republic. Its first Indian chief, Vice Admiral R. D. Katari, took over on 22 April 1958. It is organised into three commands, headquartered in Mumbai (Western), Visakhapatnam (Eastern) and Kochi (Southern).
The Navy's motto is Sham No Varunah, from the Vedas, a prayer that Varuna, lord of the waters, be kind to us. On 2 September 2022, when the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was commissioned, the Navy adopted a new ensign that dropped the St George's Cross and added an octagonal emblem inspired by Shivaji's royal seal.
- Nausena Diwas
- Hindi for Navy Day
- Sham No Varunah
- The Navy's motto, "May Varuna be auspicious to us"
- MARCOS
- Marine Commandos, the Navy's special forces
- Ensign
- The flag flown by naval ships and establishments
- Op Demo
- The operational demonstration held on or around Navy Day
What to write on Indian Navy Day
A Navy Day message is best when it thanks a real person and acknowledges what sea service costs: months without calls, missed birthdays, moves between Mumbai, Vizag and Kochi.
Happy Navy Day. Thank you for the months at sea so the rest of us can sleep easy on land. Sham No Varunah.
Happy Navy Day to the ones who wait at home. Every deployment is served by the family too.
Happy Navy Day, sir. Thank you for the years you gave to the sea and the service.
Happy Navy Day to your father and to all of you. Hope the next posting is near a good beach.
On Navy Day, remembering Operation Trident and the crew of INS Khukri. Thank you to the Indian Navy for guarding our seas.
Happy Navy Day, cadet. Fair winds on the journey ahead. We're proud of you.
Do
- Thank the person and their family; naval postings are hard on both.
- Remember the fallen, such as the crew of INS Khukri, alongside the victory.
- Keep messages proud but free of hostility towards another country.
Avoid
- Don't share photos of ships, bases or personnel that show sensitive details.
- Don't mix up Navy Day with Indian Army Day on 15 January or Indian Air Force Day on 8 October.
- Avoid jokes about sailors' long absences with their families; they rarely land well.
Three days later comes Armed Forces Flag Day on 7 December, when you can donate to the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families, and the 1971 war ended with Vijay Diwas on 16 December.
How to wish someone on Indian Navy Day
A good Navy Day message thanks sailors and naval families for time spent away at sea, and can mention Operation Trident or the Navy's motto, Sham No Varunah. Keep it respectful and grateful rather than boastful or hostile to another country. For a naval family, a line acknowledging the months apart means more than a slogan.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English, Hindi + recipient language.
When is Indian Navy Day in 2026 and 2027?
Indian Navy Day is on 4 Dec every year. Only the weekday changes.
- 2026
- 2027
Frequently asked questions
When is Indian Navy Day in 2026?
Indian Navy Day 2026 falls on Friday, 4 December 2026.
Why is Navy Day celebrated on 4 December?
Navy Day is celebrated on 4 December to mark Operation Trident, the Indian Navy's missile-boat attack on Karachi harbour on the night of 4–5 December 1971. The date was fixed in 1972 in place of 15 December.
Who led Operation Trident?
Operation Trident was led by Commander Babru Bhan Yadav, who commanded the missile boat group. The attack by INS Nipat, INS Nirghat and INS Veer sank PNS Khaibar, PNS Muhafiz and a cargo ship without any Indian casualties.
What is the motto of the Indian Navy?
The Indian Navy's motto is "Sham No Varunah", a Vedic invocation meaning "May Varuna, lord of the waters, be auspicious unto us". It appears on the Navy's crest and on its ensign.
What happened to INS Khukri?
INS Khukri was a frigate sunk by the Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor off Diu on 9 December 1971, with the loss of 18 officers and 176 sailors. Her captain, Mahendra Nath Mulla, went down with the ship and received the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously.
What is Navy Week?
Navy Week runs from 1 to 7 December, with Navy Day on 4 December. It includes ship visits, Beating Retreat ceremonies, sporting events, band concerts and outreach for schools.
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