India, Sept. 12 -- Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off an all-women, tri-services, circumnavigation sailing expedition, Samudra Pradakshina, from Gateway of India on Thursday.

Inaugurating the function virtually from his South Block office, Singh described the voyage as a "glowing symbol of Nari Shakti - the collective strength and unity of the three services, of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and its military diplomacy and global vision".

A naval spokesperson said that over the next nine months, ten women officers will sail on board the indigenously-built Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, on an easterly route covering 26,000 nautical miles. They will cross the equator twice and sail around the three great capes - Leeuwin, H...