Ekta Nagar: The 150th birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India and the architect of an integrated nation, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be celebrated on October 31 at the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, highlighting the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” (One India, Great India), an official statement said.

Patel’s birth anniversary is observed across the country as National Unity Day every year. National-level celebrations are held annually at the world’s tallest statue — the Statue of Unity — in the presence of the Prime Minister. This year, to mark the 150th anniversary, a series of special events and activities have been planned for a unique celebration.

A moving parade, modeled on the Republic Day Parade held in New Delhi every year, will be organized on October 31 at Ekta Nagar.

Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi and Director General of Police Vikas Sahay presented an overview of the extensive preparations for this celebration.

They stated that 16 contingents, including those from BSF, CISF, ITBP, CRPF, SSB, and police contingents from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and NCC, will participate in the parade.

In addition, 16 gallantry medal winners from BSF’s Operation Sindhu and five Shaurya Chakra awardees from CRPF will join the parade in open jeeps.

The parade will be led by around 100 members of the Heralding Team, dressed in colorful attire and playing a variety of musical instruments.

Nine marching bands will perform melodious tunes during the unity parade. Along with them, four school bands — two winners from Gujarat at the state level and two national-level winners — will perform a band display.

The Chief Secretary and the DGP noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guiding mantra — “States many, Nation one; Communities many, India one; Languages many, Emotion one; Colors many, Tricolor one” — will be exemplified through the unity parade and National Unity Day celebrations, making the event even more inspiring.

On this occasion, under the initiative of the Union Ministry of Culture, various cultural performances showcasing India’s rich heritage from different states will also be organized.

After paying floral tributes at the Statue of Sardar Patel, the Prime Minister will attend the parade and other events, where he will be accorded a Guard of Honour by contingents of central security forces and Gujarat Police, marking the grand beginning of the celebrations.

The parade will feature ten thematic tableaux based on the concept of “Unity,” representing different states and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including NDRF, NSG, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Manipur, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand.

Additionally, the Indian Air Force will conduct a fly-past under Operation Suryakiran. The CRPF and Gujarat Police women personnel will perform a joint rifle drill; NSG will display a hell march; Assam Police will perform a motorcycle daredevil show; BSF will present an Indian-breed dog show; while CISF and ITBP women personnel will showcase traditional martial arts. The SSB will hold a band display, and NCC cadets will also participate.

To allow more visitors to witness the parade, seating capacity has been increased to accommodate over 11,500 people this year. A National Unity Day portal has also been launched by the Statue of Unity administration, allowing online registration for people wishing to attend the events.

As part of National Unity Day, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Government of India organizes the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas inaugural event every year at Ekta Nagar. This year, around 660 trainees from the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) will participate.

A theatrical presentation titled Lohpurush, depicting the life of Sardar Patel, will be staged by the National School of Drama under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Culture.

The statement further stated that, as this year the Unity Day comes just after Diwali and the Gujarati New Year, a Festival of Lights is being celebrated from October 17 to November 15, featuring illuminations and cultural programs every evening from 7 pm to 11 pm.

For this purpose, the Valley of Flowers route at Ekta Nagar has been divided into 13 theme-based zones, each decorated with ceiling lights, roadside illumination articles, and photo/selfie points.

Further, a grand “Bharat Parv 2025” will be held at Ekta Nagar from November 1 to 15. This festival will offer visitors a chance to witness the unity in diversity of India’s cultural heritage all in one place.

During these 15 days, there will be 45 food stalls, 55 handicraft and handloom stalls, state pavilions, and cultural exhibitions from 28 states and 8 Union Territories.

Under Bharat Parv 2025, cultural performances from different states of India will be held every evening, showcasing the nation’s traditional arts and culture.

In honor of Birsa Munda’s 150th birth anniversary, a special presentation will also be organized at Ekta Nagar.

Moreover, 45 food stalls offering traditional dishes from various states and Union Territories, along with a live studio kitchen, will be set up.

The Chief Secretary and DGP added that the 15-day celebration at the Dam View Point-1 will conclude with a Cyclothon event at the Statue of Unity. On November 16, dignitaries from the central and state governments will participate in a Cycling Fun Ride, followed by a Cyclothon competition organized by the Gujarat Sports Department on November 17, which is expected to see participation from around 5,000 cyclists from across India.

The officials said that preparations for the grand National Unity Day celebration, to be presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have been finalized. The Festival of Lights at Ekta Nagar has already become a major attraction during the Diwali season, drawing thousands of visitors.