India / Rajnath, French counterpart witness Sarva Dharma Puja at Rafale induction

Ambala: The formal induction ceremony of the Rafale fighter jets began with a traditional 'Sarva Dharm puja' at the Ambala Air Force Station on Thursday morning. Praying for the security of the nation and the success of the new Rafale jets, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian priests narrated short prayers to bless the fighter jets. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly, witness the traditional 'Sarva Dharma Puja' at the Rafale induction ceremony, at Ambala airbase pic.twitter.com/qJOSJGetQl

— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2020

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly are attending the induction ceremony at the Indian Air Force Station. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria are also present at the event. 

The five Rafale jets, three single-seat and two twin-seater trainers landed at the Ambala airbase on July 29 nearly four years after India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore.