Golden Jubilee Flag Raising Day Celebrations
February 20, 1963 was selected as an auspicious day for Flag Raising by Pandits from Dehradun. A Havan was performed by five pandits at the Ghanghora Temple Dehradun and the Regimental flag was blessed by them. Maj Raghunath Singh then presented the colours to the escort Commander 2nd/Lieutenant PB Thapa. A guard of honour composed of one officer, two Junior commissioned officer and 98 other rank presented Arms. The Guard of Honour was commanded by Maj MB Gurung. The Band gave the ‘General Salute’ and then the flag was taken into Battalion at Ghanghora Quarter Guard and was placed on the pile of side drums.
The flag was then presented to the officiating Adjutant of the Battalion, Capt Mohan Singh Gurung for hoisting by Lieutenant Colonel RK Duleep Sinh, First Commanding Officer of the Battalion. The Guard of Honour presented arms and amidst band playing the ‘General Salute’ the flag was hoisted. The Subedar Major of the Battalion Subedar Major Harka Bahadur roared “4/3 Gorkha Rifles ki Jai” that echoed among all ranks and files of the Battalion. This was the first time that the battalion flag was hoisted in its own Quarter Guard. The event symbolised the culmination of the Raising and that the Battalion was now fit for war. Since then, 20th Feb is celebrated as the Flag Raising Day. The battalion was now “Fit for War”
Golden Jubilee Flag Raising Day Celebrations of the Paltan were held at New Delhi from 18 Feb to 20 Feb 2012 to mark the start of the 50th year of battalion. This spread over 3 days, this grand celebration marked the history of the battalion and prepared it for the challenges to come.