Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari leads Har Ghar Tiranga rally in Kolkata
Synopsis
West Bengal joined the Har Ghar Tiranga programme for the first time ever on 10 August, with CM Suvendu Adhikari walking 2.5 km through Kolkata carrying the national flag. The BJP government is distributing 70 lakh Tricolours statewide — a visible break from the previous administration's absence from the Centre's flagship patriotic drive.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari led West Bengal's first-ever Har Ghar Tiranga rally in Kolkata on 10 August .
The procession covered 2.5 kilometres from Gaur Pal Sarani to Victoria Memorial North Gate , drawing thousands of participants.
The state is distributing 70 lakh national flags as part of the programme, which runs from 9 to 17 August .
Adhikari announced the Raksha Bandhan festival will be officially celebrated, citing social unity rather than religious grounds.
West Bengal had not participated in the Har Ghar Tiranga programme under the previous state government.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday, 10 August led the state's first-ever Har Ghar Tiranga rally through the streets of Kolkata, walking approximately 2.5 kilometres while carrying the national flag. Thousands of residents joined the procession alongside state ministers and legislators, marking a significant political shift as West Bengal formally associates with the Centre's flagship patriotic programme for the first time.
The Procession Route and Participants
The rally commenced at Gaur Pal Sarani in central Kolkata and concluded at the Victoria Memorial North Gate. Walking beside Adhikari were state ministers Arjun Singh, Jagannath Chatterjee, and Deepak Barman, as well as MLAs Rudranil Ghosh and Kaustuv Bagchi, along with several other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. A banner reading 'Tiranga in every home' marked the start of the procession.
West Bengal's First Participation in Har Ghar Tiranga
The Har Ghar Tiranga programme, run by the NDA government at the Centre, has been observed nationally for several years. West Bengal had not participated previously under the prior state administration. With the BJP now in power in the state, Adhikari formally aligned the state with the initiative, which runs from 9 to 17 August. He launched the programme from his own Bhabanipur constituency before leading Monday's rally.
The state government is distributing 70 lakh national flags across West Bengal as part of the drive. Adhikari urged residents to hoist the Tricolour in their homes and invited them to attend the main event on Red Road on 15 August.
Raksha Bandhan to Be Officially Celebrated
In a separate announcement made after the procession, Adhikari declared that the Raksha Bandhan festival would be officially celebrated by the state government this year. He framed the decision in civic rather than religious terms, stating: 'I have announced that the Raksha Bandhan festival will be celebrated officially. Not for religious reasons, but to strengthen the bond with everyone and make West Bengal the best in India.'
What Comes Next
Adhikari thanked the state's Information and Culture Department and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation for organising the rally. With the Har Ghar Tiranga window running until 17 August and the Independence Day event at Red Road on 15 August, the state government is signalling a clear intent to mainstream national-day observances that were largely absent from Bengal's official calendar under the previous administration. This comes amid broader efforts by the new BJP government to align West Bengal's civic programming with Central government initiatives.
Point of View
Framed carefully in the language of social cohesion rather than religion, reflects the tightrope the new government must walk in a state with a complex communal arithmetic. Whether these symbolic gestures translate into durable governance credibility will be the real test.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Har Ghar Tiranga programme?
Har Ghar Tiranga is a Central government initiative that encourages every household to hoist the national flag around Independence Day. The programme runs from 9 to 17 August and has been observed nationally for several years, though West Bengal participated for the first time in 2025 under the new BJP government.
Why is this the first time West Bengal joined Har Ghar Tiranga?
West Bengal had not participated in the Har Ghar Tiranga programme under its previous state government. The newly elected BJP administration, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, chose to formally associate the state with the Centre's initiative this year.
How many national flags is West Bengal distributing?
The West Bengal government is distributing 70 lakh national flags across the state as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga drive running from 9 to 17 August.
Why did Adhikari announce an official Raksha Bandhan celebration?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that Raksha Bandhan would be officially celebrated by the state government, stating the purpose is to strengthen social bonds rather than mark a religious occasion. He said the goal is to 'make West Bengal the best in India.'
Where did the Har Ghar Tiranga rally take place in Kolkata?
The rally began at Gaur Pal Sarani in central Kolkata and ended at the Victoria Memorial North Gate, covering approximately 2.5 kilometres. Chief Minister Adhikari had earlier launched the programme from his Bhabanipur constituency.
