Delhi to hold series of national unity events to celebrate Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary: Sood

The Delhi government is going to organise a series of national unity programs across the city to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary on October 31, Education Minister Ashish Sood said on Tuesday.

As part of the “Sardar @150” initiative numerous inspirational programs will be organized across Delhi in response to the call of the Central government and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, to carry the message of “Ek Bharat, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Ekjut Bharat, Viksit Bharat”, while also promoting national unity, drug-free living, and a clean Yamuna among the youth.

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Sood said Patel’s 150th birth anniversary is going to rekindle the spirit of unity from Kashmir to Kanyakumari that he once envisioned.

As part of this campaign, 150 students from 15 educational districts of Delhi will collect water from the Yamuna River, which will then be carried to 25 major rivers across the country including the Jhelum in Jammu and Kashmir and the Musi River in Hyderabad.

In exchange, sacred water from these rivers will be brought back to Delhi and offered at the Sardar Patel statue on Patel Chowk, symbolizing the ‘National Unity Water Pledge,’ Sood informed.

On October 31, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will perform the Jalabhishek (ritual offering) at the statue using this collected water, and a documentary film based on this entire campaign will also be screened during the main ceremony, Sood shared.

The Education minister also announced that on October 31, at 6:00 pm, state-level “Ekta Padyatras” (Unity Marches) will be organized across the city’s 11 revenue districts under the leadership of the CM.

The marches, beginning at Patel Chowk and concluding at the National War Memorial, will witness participation of around 5,000 people, including students, teachers, youth, and volunteers from NSS, NCC, and other institutions.

Each district’s event will culminate in cultural and motivational programmes designed to promote patriotism, discipline, and unity among students, Sood added.

From November 1 to November 25, across Delhi’s ten districts, there will be a dedicated 15-kilometer march collectively forming a 150-kilometer-long campaign, the minister said, adding that these will be led by Members of Parliament, Ministers, MLAs, and other distinguished professionals.

Sood further informed that November 1 which marks the Foundation Day of Delhi, and nine other states, will witness a grand cultural event and projection mapping show at the Red Fort on the theme “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat – Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

The Minister also announced that in collaboration with the Central government’s My Bharat initiative, a poster-making competition will be held across Delhi’s fifteen educational districts on the theme “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat – Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

The top 10 students from each district (total 150 students symbolizing Sardar Patel’s 150th anniversary) will be selected for a study tour to the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

The 15 best posters will be presented to the Prime Minister and Home Minister.

On November 26 (Constitution Day), a national-level unity march will be held, featuring youth representatives from across India, NSS, NCC, and My Bharat.

He also shared that the Delhi government will also organize special events in November, under the theme “Meri Dilli, Mera Desh”, including projection mapping, a light and sound show, and a grand food festival.