The Centre has called for nationwide celebrations of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) on October 31, marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, with a special focus on national
integration, unity and the country’s fight against Left-Wing Extremism.
In a communication issued by Union Home Minister Amit Shah that has been accessed by CNN-News18, ministries, departments and government organisations have been asked to organise events to mark the occasion and ensure widespread public participation.
The celebrations will include a Unity Day pledge-taking ceremony and a nationwide ‘Run for Unity’, aimed at spreading the message of national integration across communities and sections of society.
The main celebrations will be held at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, where a grand Unity Parade is scheduled for the evening of October 31. The parade will feature contingents from state police forces, including their anti-Naxal units, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and NCC cadets.
The parade will also showcase tableaux based on the central theme of ‘Vande Mataram’. An important feature will be the participation of people from districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism, highlighting the government’s emphasis on the achievements of its anti-Naxal campaign and its vision of a ‘Naxal-Mukt Bharat’.
The home minister has also asked ministries and their subordinate offices and organisations to give wide publicity to the National Unity Day celebrations and encourage employees and citizens to participate in the events. Registration for participation in the programme can be undertaken through the official Rashtriya Ekta Diwas portal.
The celebrations will also coincide with Bharat Parv 2026, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate on October 30. The festival, scheduled to continue until November 15, will showcase India’s cultural heritage and national unity through the participation of states and Union Territories.
The event will provide a platform for states and Union Territories to showcase their distinctive traditions, folk performances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourism attractions. A theatrical presentation based on the celebrated novel ‘Anandmath’ by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay is also scheduled for the evening of October 30.
The government has called for the occasion to be celebrated with enthusiasm and public participation, presenting Patel’s 151st birth anniversary as an opportunity to reaffirm the idea of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
