In a press conference held in New Delhi, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan announced details regarding the upcoming Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026 and Bharat Parv 2026 celebrations at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
Scheduled for October 31, the annual event commemorates the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The celebrations will open with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paying floral tributes at the Statue of Unity.
This year’s edition of the Ekta Parade introduces structural changes, most notably shifting from a morning event to an evening spectacle to offer a more comfortable experience for visitors. Central to the 2026 parade is the celebration of India getting rid of armed Naxalism.
The key highlights showcasing this operational achievement include:
- Parade Contingents with Visual Narratives: State Police forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) that spearheaded counter-insurgency operations will march down the boulevard. LED display screens along the route will screen short films detailing each contingent’s crucial victories.
- National School of Drama (NSD) Showcase: Approximately 2,000 artists sourced directly from 126 districts once affected by Naxal violence will depict their journey from past struggles toward current development.
- Community Voices: Around 5,000 residents from these 126 former Naxal-affected districts have been invited as special spectators to share their personal testimonies of peace and regional growth.
Moving away from traditional government-designed floats, the 2026 parade introduces citizen-designed tableaux. A total of 15 tableaux were selected through national MyGov competitions and district contests across Gujarat to represent public aspirations directly.
The event’s overarching theme aligns with the 150th year of Vande Mataram. Ground performances will feature 5,000 artists drawn from diverse communities residing across Gujarat, reflecting the core principle of One Bharat Shrestha Bharat.
The evening will conclude with a theatrical play presented by the National School of Drama before Prime Minister Modi. Inspired by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya’s novel Anandamaththe contemporary adaptation highlights the civic responsibility of every citizen in shaping the nation’s future.