The Saurashtra Safari and sea sailing by 9 Mahar has been an activity to mark the Mahar Regiment’s diamond jubilee celebrations. To acknowledge the spirit of adventure in regimental ethos, 9 Mahar undertook an adventure safari in the Rann of Kutch and the mangrove swamps of the Saurashtra Coast.

The seven-day safari-cum-cruise was conducted to expose the participants to the kaleidoscope of cultural and ethnic variety obtainable in western borders and in coastal areas. The team comprised one officer, two junior commissioned officers and 40 Other Ranks led by Capt PK Das of 9 Mahar. All units of the Regiment contributed to this activity with two OR each.

Flagged off from Jamnagar by Brig Laxman Vijayan, the members of the team cycled 140 km from Jamnagar to Dwaraka in two days. They were taken from Dwarka in ships arranged by INS Dwarka, on a coastal trek between Porbander and Somnath. The members exhibited wind surfing, kayaking and sailing during this round. They carried out the cycling expedition along the coast up to Somnath and were flagged in at Jamnagar.

As 9 Mahar was busy in Saurashtra Safari and sea sailing, 19 Mahar, the youngest battalion of the Regiment, was busy in travelling the highest motorable road in the world traversing the entire length of Northern Himalayas within the Indian territory. The month -long Trans Himalayan Motorcycle Expedition undertaken for the first time in the country from Deepatoli Cantt in Ranchi was not without a purpose. The whole of the exercise was to boost the Army’s image in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Kumaon-Garhwal region of Uttar Pradesh - areas from where a maximum number of soldiers serve the Indian Army.

Having covered the most important Akhnoor - Jammu - Pathankot - Kangra-Mandi - Kullu - Manali - Leh - Kargil - Leh - Manali - Mandi - Shimla - Dehradun - Rudraprayag - Kausani - Pithoragarh - Ranikhet - Nainital - Gwalior - Sagar route, the expedition paid homage to the martyrs of operation Vijay.

The adventures of the Mahar Regiment Centre did not end here. Keeping in view the spirit and rich traditions of the Regiment, it also planned a five-day white water river rafting. Mahar organised and conducted the event in Teesta River on behalf of the Regiment. Personnel from other units of the Regiment too participated in this adventurous event.

Rafting in turbulent water of rapid river gives a tremendous scope for adventure training and also brings to the fore courage, determination and team spirit. A team comprising an officer and a majority of the members from 13 Mahar participated in the event. Rest of the battalions of the Regiment constituted the balance of the expedition team.

White water river rafting is a low cost adventurous sport with considerable potential for inculcating and displaying leadership qualities and character-building traits. Participation in such an adventurous sport immensely boosted the Mahar Regiment’s image, in particular, and the Army, in general.