Ekta Nagar, October 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated ‘Bharat Parv 2026’ at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat’s Narmada district, launching a cultural festival showcasing India’s traditions, folk performances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourist attractions.
The festival, organised as part of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations, will continue until November 15.
Centred on national unity and the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, Bharat Parv provides a platform for states and Union Territories to showcase their cultural identities and tourism offerings. The event is also expected to boost tourism in Ekta Nagar and surrounding areas.
Later in the day, Modi is scheduled to witness the Ekta Prakash Parv, an illumination festival celebrating India’s unity, diversity, cultural heritage and progress.
The festival’s attractions include 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, architecture, folk dances, handicrafts and lifestyles of the country’s four regions.
More than 1.5 crore LED lights have been used for the displays, featuring artworks created by artists from across the country.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to attend the Narmada Aarti at around 8:15 p.m. at the upgraded Shoolpaneshwar Narmada Ghat.
Developed by the Statue of Unity Area Development and Tourism Governance Authority at a cost of Rs 15.10 crore, the ghat’s visitor capacity has been increased from 4,000 to 6,000, with seating arrangements for approximately 2,000 people.
The upgrade includes an expanded stepped ghat, a 190-metre all-weather approach road, amphitheatre-style seating, red sandstone cladding, murals and sculptures, along with riverbank protection structures.
On Saturday, October 31, marking 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 with a combined outlay of Rs 426.71 crore.
Of these, 23 projects worth Rs 307.83 crore will be inaugurated, while foundation stones will be laid for eight projects costing Rs 118.88 crore.
The new attractions include an IRCTC hotel built at a cost of Rs 50 crore, an Ekta Cruise costing Rs 16 crore, a Rain Forest project worth Rs 14.30 crore and an Eco Trail costing Rs 3.67 crore.
Infrastructure projects to be inaugurated include a sewage treatment plant, a water treatment plant, travelators, a parade track, staff quarters and improvements to roads and visitor facilities.
The project package also includes the Narmada Ghat upgrade, facade lighting at the Statue of Unity campus, the development of Ekta Prakash Parv and the upgradation of Unity Glow Garden.
Projects for which foundation stones will be laid include the Gora-Bhanadra Road, a smart zero-waste integrated solid waste management project, the development of Khalwani Eco-Tourism and an integrated Cactus and Butterfly Garden.
A disaster control room for the Sardar Sarovar Dam and road improvement works are also part of the proposed projects.
During his visit, Modi will also tour the Rain Forest and Vaman Vriksha Vatika before participating in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at around 5:30 p.m.
The celebrations will feature the Ekta Parade, involving Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces and central police organisations, with a focus on security forces’ efforts against Left-Wing Extremism.
A theatrical presentation titled ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’, organised by the National School of Drama, will feature around 2,000 artists from 126 districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism.
The tableaux and cultural performances will follow the theme ‘Vande Mataram’, while a larger cultural presentation will bring together around 5,000 artists from across the country.
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