Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: PM Modi leads tributes to Sardar Patel on 151st birth anniversary at Statue of Unity

The country is marking Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, on Saturday, the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Home Minister and the leader credited with uniting hundreds of princely states after Independence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to offer floral tributes at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, at about 9 am, according to the Prime Minister's Office. Shortly after, he is to inaugurate, dedicate and lay foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 400 crore in the area.

Projects at Ekta Nagar

The works due to be inaugurated include a sewage and water treatment plant, facade lighting, an upgraded Narmada Ghat, an IRCTC hotel and a new rainforest, unity and eco trail. Foundation stones are planned for a road development project, an integrated zero-waste solid waste management system, an eco-tourism project at Khalwani and upgrades to the Cactus and Butterfly Garden.

Ekta Parade themed on Vande Mataram

The main celebrations are scheduled for the evening. This year's overall theme is Vande Mataram, marking 150 years of the national song. The Ekta Parade will feature contingents of the Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces and central police organisations, with special emphasis on the work of security forces against Left-Wing Extremism and the development of areas once affected by it.

According to DD India, short films on each contingent's work will be played on LED screens as it passes the saluting dais. Fifteen tableaux have been built from designs submitted by citizens through MyGov and Gujarat district-level competitions, rather than by ministries and state governments as in the past.

The National School of Drama is staging a production titled "Naxal Mukt Bharat" with about 2,000 artists drawn from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism. Around 5,000 artists from across the country will also present classical and folk performances.

Bharat Parv underway

The Prime Minister on Friday evening opened Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar, a cultural festival showcasing the food, crafts, folk arts and tourism of states and Union Territories. It runs until November 15. Earlier on Friday, he launched projects worth over Rs 14,000 crore in Banaskantha district and released the 24th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme.

Unity runs, pledges and other events are being held across the country to mark the day.