The Indian Navy’s Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini sets sail today on the flagship voyage of Lokayan 26, a 10-month transoceanic expedition that will traverse over 22,000 nautical miles across the world’s oceans. Far more than a routine naval deployment, this journey reflects India’s deep-rooted maritime legacy and its civilisational philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world as one family carried across seas and continents. As the white sails of Sudarshini rise against the horizon, they will carry with them not just a ship and crew, but stories of tradition, diplomacy, training, and trust that India seeks to build with the global maritime community.

Lokayan 26: A Voyage Across Oceans and Nations

Lokayan 26 will see INS Sudarshini visit 18 foreign ports across 13 countries, making it one of the most extensive sail training deployments undertaken by the Indian Navy. Over the course of nearly a year at sea, the ship will connect India with distant shores through goodwill visits, professional exchanges, and cultural interactions. Each port call is designed to strengthen maritime partnerships, enhance mutual understanding, and reinforce India’s presence as a responsible and cooperative maritime nation. In an era where oceans are increasingly central to trade, security, and geopolitics, such engagements underline India’s commitment to peaceful navigation and collaboration.

Showcasing India at the World’s Grand Maritime Events

A major highlight of Lokayan 26 will be INS Sudarshini’s participation in two of the world’s most prestigious tall-ship events. The ship will represent India at Escale à Sète in France and at SAIL 250 in New York, USA, global gatherings that celebrate seafaring traditions, maritime culture, and international camaraderie. At these events, Sudarshini will stand alongside iconic sailing vessels from across the world, showcasing India’s proud naval heritage and traditional seamanship. For visitors and sailors alike, the ship will serve as a floating ambassador of India’s long relationship with the seas, reminding the world that India’s maritime story is as old as its civilisation itself. 

Training the Next Generation of Sea Leaders

At the heart of Lokayan 26 lies a powerful human mission. Over 200 trainees from the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard will undergo intensive sail training during the voyage. For many of them, this expedition will be their first true test of long-range ocean navigation, endurance, and life at sea. Living aboard a tall ship demands discipline and teamwork. Trainees will learn traditional seamanship skills, handling sails, reading winds and navigating vast oceans without modern dependence while also understanding leadership and responsibility in the most unforgiving environment. These lessons cannot be taught in classrooms; they are earned through salt, sweat, and shared challenges on open waters.

Advancing the Vision of MAHASAGAR

INS Sudarshini’s deployment aligns closely with India’s broader maritime vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). By engaging with friendly nations, strengthening interoperability, and promoting shared maritime values, the voyage contributes to regional stability and cooperative security. In a world marked by strategic competition in the maritime domain, Lokayan 26 sends a clear message: India’s approach to the seas is rooted in partnership, dialogue, and mutual respect rather than confrontation. 

Beyond training and strategy, Lokayan 26 is a powerful exercise in cultural diplomacy. The presence of a traditional sail training ship in foreign ports sparks curiosity, conversation, and connection. For local communities abroad, Sudarshini becomes a living museum of Indian maritime culture, history, and naval professionalism. For Indian sailors onboard, each port visit is also a moment of pride and an opportunity to represent their country through conduct, discipline, and openness. These everyday interactions often leave a lasting impression that formal diplomacy alone cannot achieve.

Carrying India’s Flag Across the Oceans

As INS Sudarshini embarks on this flagship voyage, she carries more than sailors and sails; she carries India’s story across the oceans. A story of ancient seafaring roots meeting modern naval vision, of young trainees learning the language of the sea, and of a nation building bridges of trust across continents. Lokayan 26 is ultimately about people, purpose, and presence. It reaffirms that India’s relationship with the oceans is not just strategic but a civilizational one that values connection, cooperation, and shared journeys across the blue expanse of the world.