Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat's Narmada district, opening a national cultural festival held as part of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations, IANS reported.

Source: IANS

The festival will continue until November 15 and gives states and Union Territories a platform to present their traditions, folk performances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourism attractions, under the theme of national unity and the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.

Source: IANS

Later in the evening, the Prime Minister attended the Ekta Prakash Parv illumination festival and watched a stage adaptation of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's 'Anand Math', titled 'Anand Math: Maa Ne Phir Bulaya Hai', staged by the National School of Drama with around 300 artistes, IANS reported. This year marks 150 years of 'Vande Mataram', which first appeared in 'Anand Math'.

Source: IANS

Ekta Prakash Parv features a 530-metre illuminated stretch along Valley of Flowers Road themed 'From Ancient India to Modern India' and a 180-metre Glow Tunnel showcasing the cultures of the country's four regions. The evening programme was to be followed by the Narmada Aarti at around 8:15 p.m. at the upgraded Shoolpaneshwar Narmada Ghat, developed at a cost of Rs 15.10 crore, according to IANS.

Source: IANS

ANI, citing the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office, also reported the inauguration and the Ekta Prakash Parv attendance, and said the Prime Minister had earlier in the day dedicated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth over Rs 14,000 crore from Banaskantha district.

Source: ANI via Desi Talk Chicago

On Saturday, October 31 — the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister — Modi will pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity before inaugurating and laying foundation stones for 31 tourism and infrastructure projects worth Rs 426.71 crore in Ekta Nagar, IANS reported.

Source: IANS