KAZA/SHIMLA, August 24:
At 15,000 ft, the air is thin. While rest of Himachal is drenched in monsoons rains, the winds cut sharp in lush blue skies of Spiti. Spitians and soldiers ran together. In a first. the cold desert turned into a festival of grit and brotherhood.
The Surya Spiti Challenge and the maiden Surya Dronathon 2025 ended on Sunday. Locals, athletes and soldiers raced through barren cliffs, icy gorges and prayer-flags dotting the valley and Passes.
Naik Het Ram won the men’s title. Tenzin Dolma clinched the women’s crown. “Running here is like testing your soul. The mountains push you to your limits,” Dolma said after crossing the finish line.
Over 1,500 runners joined the marathon. Among them were 800 locals, 700 soldiers and 32 elite athletes coming from across the country.
They ran four categories – the 77 km Kunzum La–Kaza Commando Run, the 42 km Spiti River Marathon, the 21 km Border Dash, and the 10 km Highland Dash.
The run meant more than medals. It was bonding. “For us villagers, this is pride,” said Sonam Dorje, a farmer from Kaza. “The Army running with us shows we are one family on this frontier that straddle border with China-occupied Tibet.”
On the tech front, the Surya Dronathon 2025 showcased drones. Startups, service teams and innovators tested cutting-edge machines.
For Spitians, these drones and gadgets were eerie objects they had never seen before. Wide-eyed children and curious elders watched as the machines buzzed in the sky.
“We never imagined flying machines like this in our valley,” said Tsering Angmo, a 72-year-old elder from Rangrik. “It feels like the future has landed in Spiti.”
“This event proves the spirit of joint operations,” said an Army spokesperson. “It connects us with border people and encourages innovation for national security.”
Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, GOC-in-C Central Command, watched the marathon and drone demos. He praised the grit of locals and soldiers. He said these events inspire youth, build trust, and boost self-reliance in defence.
In Spiti, where only a few thousand Buddhist tribals live, the marathon became a memory.
Boots thudded on the mountain tracks. Drones buzzed in the skies. Monasteries and Gompas echoed with cheers. It was more than a race. It was a celebration of survival, courage and Himalayan spirit.
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