CM Bhupendra Patel Hails Bharat Parv 2026 Launch at Ekta Nagar
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar on 30 October, launching a 15-day showcase of folk dances, regional cuisine, handicrafts and tourism from every Indian state and UT at the Statue of Unity. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel hailed the event as a grand celebration of national unity.
Key Takeaways
Bharat Parv 2026 was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat on 30 October 2026 .
The festival runs until 15 November 2026 , spanning 15 days .
All Indian states and Union Territories are participating, showcasing folk dances, regional cuisine, handicrafts and tourism attractions.
The venue — beside the Statue of Unity , the world's tallest statue at 182 metres — reinforces the national-integration theme.
The event flows from the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme launched in 2015 to promote inter-state cultural exchange.
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel publicly invited citizens to attend and called it a 'grand celebration of One India, Supreme India.'
At the foot of the world's tallest statue, India's cultural mosaic came alive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 30 October 2026 inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat — a festival that runs until 15 November and brings every state and Union Territory onto a single stage, celebrating the country's folk dances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourism draws side by side.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel greeted the launch with visible pride on X, calling it 'एक भारत, श्रेष्ठ भारत का भव्य उत्सव' — 'a grand celebration of One India, Supreme India' — and invited citizens to witness the festival at the shadow of the Statue of Unity, the towering tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Why the Statue of Unity is the right backdrop
The choice of Ekta Nagar — the town formerly known as Kevadia, renamed to anchor its identity to national unity — is deliberate and loaded with symbolism. The Statue of Unity, unveiled in 2018, stands at 182 metres and honours Sardar Patel, the statesman who stitched hundreds of princely states into a single Indian republic after independence. Hosting a festival about unity in diversity here is not coincidence; it is choreography.
Bharat Parv's roots in Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
The festival draws its mandate from the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme, which Prime Minister Modi announced in 2015 to deepen cultural bonds between paired states and Union Territories. Bharat Parv is its most visible annual expression — a travelling showcase that rotates venues and consistently draws crowds with its blend of live performances, artisan stalls and regional food courts. The 15-day edition at Ekta Nagar places art forms and culinary traditions from across the country within walking distance of one of India's premier tourist landmarks, amplifying both the cultural message and the domestic tourism pitch.
What visitors can expect before 15 November
Through 15 November 2026, attendees can experience folk and classical dances, handloom and handicraft exhibitions, and signature dishes from states stretching from Jammu & Kashmir to Tamil Nadu — all on a single fairground. CM Patel specifically flagged the convergence of 'loka-nritya, kshetriya vyanjan, hastashilpa aur paryatan aakarshan' — folk dances, regional cuisine, handicrafts and tourism attractions — as the event's defining draw, urging people to make the trip.
A fortnight of India, distilled into one address. If the Statue of Unity was Sardar Patel's argument for national integration in stone, Bharat Parv 2026 is the same argument — in song, spice and colour.
Point of View
Gujarat's signature infrastructure achievement under Modi's watch, as the permanent home of national-integration celebrations. Hosting the event here reinforces the BJP's brand equation between Sardar Patel's legacy and its own governance narrative. The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat framework, now over a decade old, is maturing from a policy slogan into a calendar fixture with real tourism dividends for host states. For the Gujarat government, CM Patel's enthusiastic endorsement signals that drawing national-level events to the state remains a core political and economic priority.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bharat Parv 2026 and where is it being held?
Bharat Parv 2026 is a national cultural festival showcasing the folk dances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourism attractions of all Indian states and Union Territories. The 2026 edition is being held at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat , near the Statue of Unity, from 30 October to 15 November 2026 .
Who inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar on 30 October 2026 .
What is the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme?
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat is a government programme announced in 2015 to strengthen national integration by promoting cultural exchanges between paired Indian states and Union Territories. Bharat Parv is its flagship annual celebration.
Why is Bharat Parv 2026 being held near the Statue of Unity?
The Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar honours Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who integrated India's princely states after independence. Hosting a unity-in-diversity festival at this site reinforces the national integration theme at one of India's most iconic monuments.
How long does Bharat Parv 2026 last and what can visitors see?
The festival runs for 15 days , from 30 October to 15 November 2026 . Visitors can experience folk and classical performances, handicraft and handloom exhibitions, regional cuisine stalls and tourism showcases from every state and Union Territory.
