Bharat Parv to be celebrated from Nov 1-15 to mark Sardar Patel's 150th birth anniv: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced that National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) will be celebrated every year on October 31 with a grand parade at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, the birthplace of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on the lines of the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi.

Shah also unveiled a fortnight-long national celebration, 'Bharat Parv 2025,' set to commence on November 1, to mark the start of Sardar Patel's 150th birth anniversary commemorations.

''This parade will, in essence, be a parade of India's unity, a means to bring the nation's highest ideals to life on the ground,'' the home minister said, adding, ''Following Sardar Patel's 150th birth anniversary, this parade will be celebrated regularly every October 31, on the lines of the January 26th Republic Day Parade.'' He said this annual event will forever serve as a vital means to educate the country's youth about Sardar Patel's principles and the monumental work he undertook for the nation.

Taking out time from his electioneering in Bihar, Shah addressed a press conference to brief about the large-scale functions to be held on Friday, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be taking a salute of various police contingents marching past the Statue of Unity.

Tomorrow's parade will feature women police officers leading the contingents, cultural exhibitions by personnel from various states and paramilitary forces and specialised displays like the BSF Camel contingent, Gujarat's Mounted Cavalry, and the Assam Police's Motorcycle Daredevil Show.

He said the Indian Air Force's Surya Kiran Team will provide a powerful air show, serving as the highlight of the parade.

Shah said more than 900 artistes from all over the country will present their cultural heritage to the world. ''And in a way, this parade will be a parade of India's unity. It will be a way to bring India's best concept to the ground,'' he added.

Stressing that Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is a non-political event, Shah said it is meant solely to honour Sardar Patel’s unparalleled role in integrating 562 princely states into the Indian Union.

Talking about the fortnight-long 'Bharat Parv 2025' which will be celebrated from November 1, he said it will begin to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 150th birth anniversary and conclude on November 15 with a grand celebration held at the 'Statue of Unity' to mark the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda.

This will feature a grand programme showcasing tribal culture, art, folk traditions, and music, creating a ''wonderful symphony.'' He said that tribal culture, including diversity in food and performing arts, will be exhibited on the occasion.

''The 150th birth anniversary of the 'Iron Man of India' and architect of a united India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be celebrated on October 31 at the 'Statue of Unity' in Ekta Nagar, reflecting the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat''', he said.

The PM will offer floral tributes at the 'Statue of Unity', which will be followed by Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations, he added.

Shah also accused Congress of not conferring the Bharat Ratna award on Sardar Patel for 41 years.

''Along with Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel formed the backbone of India's freedom struggle. His contribution to building the foundation of the nation is immense. Yet, Congress left no stone unturned to try to make the nation forget his contribution and didn't construct any statue or memorial in his name,'' he said.

On the other hand, the NDA constructed, in a record time of 57 months, the 'Statue of Unity', which is an engineering marvel, he added.

Shah said 15,000 tourists visit the 'Statue of Unity' each year, and more than 2.5 crore people from across the country and abroad have visited the statue to date.

Under the initiative of the PM, the surrounding area, now known as Ekta Nagar, has been transformed into a comprehensive destination featuring 14 other tourist attractions developed to enhance the visitor experience, he said.

''Patel's life was dedicated to the farmers, and fittingly, iron for the statue of the Iron Man of India was collected from the farmers,'' he said.

Shah said a 'Run for Unity' programme will be held in schools and colleges this year.

The home minister said Patel is more than just a historical figure and termed him a foundational thinker and a towering personality dedicated entirely to the nation.

His contributions were immense, both during the struggle for freedom and in the critical years following Independence.

Patel's resolute leadership was first cemented in 1928 during the Satyagraha, a powerful movement against the British exploitation of farmers and it was here that Mahatma Gandhi bestowed upon him the title of 'Sardar', he recalled.