Bharat Parv 2026 opens at Ekta Nagar as Modi marks Patel’s 151st birthday
India has opened Bharat Parv 2026, a two-week cultural festival celebrating the food, folk arts, crafts and tourist attractions of every state and Union Territory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the festival at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat during his visit on Friday, 30 October, and it runs until Sunday, 15 November.
The festival sits at the foot of the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, in Gujarat’s Narmada district. Modi was in Ekta Nagar for a two-day visit tied to Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, the annual National Unity Day held on 31 October to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister.
On Saturday, 31 October, Modi paid floral tributes to Patel at the statue on the freedom fighter’s 151st birth anniversary, formally opening the day’s unity programme. The evening programme was scheduled to feature an Ekta Parade with police contingents, a theatrical presentation by about 2,000 artistes from 126 districts, and a larger cultural show with around 5,000 artistes, themed on ‘Vande Mataram’.
Modi also used the visit to launch 31 tourism and infrastructure projects worth ₹426.71 crore. Of these, 23 projects worth ₹307.83 crore were inaugurated, while foundation stones were laid for eight projects worth ₹118.88 crore. The biggest items include a ₹50 crore IRCTC hotel, a ₹16 crore Ekta Cruise, a ₹14.30 crore Rain Forest attraction and a ₹3.67 crore Eco Trail.
Visitors also got a first look at Ekta Prakash Parv-2026, a light festival at Ekta Nagar with more than 1.5 crore LED lights. It includes a 530-metre illuminated stretch along Valley of Flowers Road and a 180-metre Glow Tunnel, with displays representing the culture of India’s north, east, west and south.
Why it matters
Bharat Parv puts India’s states on one stage at a site built around national unity, and the timing is deliberate: it opened on the weekend of Patel’s birth anniversary, when Ekta Nagar draws its biggest crowds. For local artisans, performers and small tourism businesses, the two weeks bring a rare national shop window.
What happens next
The festival runs until 15 November, with state stalls, folk performances and food on show throughout. The new Ekta Nagar attractions, including the hotel and cruise, are part of the 31 projects launched during the visit.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.nationpress.com/national/bharat-parv-2026-opens-at-ekta-nagar (Nation Press, 31 October 2026)
- https://hiindia.com/pm-modi-pays-floral-tribute-to-sardar-patel-at-statue-of-unity-in-gujarat/ (hi INDIA / IANS, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.nationpress.com/all/modi-at-statue-of-unity-on-patels-151st-anniversary (Nation Press, 31 October 2026)
