CM Bhupendra Patel Reviews Ekta Nagar Prep for National Unity Day
Synopsis
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel arrived at Ekta Nagar on 17 October 2026 to review National Unity Day arrangements and launch Ekta Prakash Parv-2026, ahead of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 151st birth anniversary on 31 October at the Statue of Unity.
Key Takeaways
CM Bhupendra Patel visited Ekta Nagar on 17 October 2026 for an on-site review of National Unity Day preparations.
He inspected the main Rashtriya Ekta Diwas parade ground and held a meeting with senior state officials, issuing operational directions.
The visit also marked the formal flagging off of Ekta Prakash Parv-2026 , a new initiative tied to the National Unity Day observance.
The celebrations mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 151st birth anniversary on 31 October 2026 .
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was instituted by the central government in 2014 ; the Statue of Unity has hosted the main parade since its inauguration in 2018 .
The Gujarat state government stated it is 'committed' to ensuring the event is held in a smooth, grand, and well-organised manner.
Two weeks before Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 151st birth anniversary, Gujarat is already in full gear. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel arrived at Ekta Nagar on Saturday, 17 October 2026 to personally inspect preparations for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and to flag off the 'Ekta Prakash Parv-2026' — a new initiative anchored at the foot of the world's tallest statue.
Posting on X in Gujarati, CM Patel wrote that under the 'inspirational guidance' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he visited Ekta Nagar to review the various programmes and advance arrangements for the National Unity Day celebrations and the launch of Ekta Prakash Parv-2026. He inspected the main parade ground, chaired a meeting with senior officials, and issued necessary directions to ensure the event is conducted in a 'smooth, grand, and well-organised' manner.
The 151st anniversary — and why the number matters
The Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was born on 31 October 1875. The 151st birth anniversary is a landmark figure — one that the Gujarat government is treating as an occasion to scale up what has already become an annual centrepiece event. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was instituted by the central government in 2014 to honour Patel's legacy of national integration, and the day has been observed on 31 October every year since.
The Statue of Unity, inaugurated by PM Modi on 31 October 2018, gave these celebrations a permanent, iconic home. Standing at 182 metres, the statue in Ekta Nagar — the town in Gujarat formerly known as Kevadia — has served as the venue for the main national parade and allied programmes every year since its unveiling.
Ekta Prakash Parv-2026: a new chapter at the statue's base
This year introduces Ekta Prakash Parv-2026 — a festival of light and unity whose formal launch was part of CM Patel's visit. While specific programme details are still being finalised ahead of the 31 October event, the CM's ground-level inspection signals the state government's intent to deliver something visibly larger than previous editions.
Saturday's visit was not ceremonial. CM Patel held a structured review with senior state officials, examined the parade ground layout, and issued operational directions — the kind of on-site coordination that typically precedes a high-visibility national event with central government participation.
Gujarat's role as the event's permanent host
Since the Statue of Unity's inauguration, Gujarat has anchored the national observance of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, placing the state at the intersection of both its own Patel legacy and the BJP-led central government's sustained emphasis on that legacy. The Chief Minister's pre-event site visit has become a fixture of the calendar — a visible demonstration of state-centre coordination that frames Gujarat as the natural custodian of Patel's memory.
With a 151st anniversary, a new Ekta Prakash Parv, and preparations already at review stage, the 31 October 2026 edition looks set to be among the most elaborately staged yet. The Iron Man's statue has never stood in a quieter spotlight.
Point of View
Deepening a pattern in which state-level spectacle and central government symbolism reinforce each other. The 151st anniversary provides a numerically significant hook that typically invites larger-scale programming and broader media attention. How the new Parv is structured will reveal whether the state is innovating around the Statue of Unity's draw or simply rebranding existing activities.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and when is it observed?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed every year on 31 October to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It was instituted by the central government in 2014 to promote national integration.
What is Ekta Prakash Parv-2026?
Ekta Prakash Parv-2026 is a new initiative launched alongside the 2026 National Unity Day celebrations at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. Specific programme details are still being finalised ahead of 31 October 2026 .
Why is 2026 significant for Sardar Patel's birth anniversary?
2026 marks Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 151st birth anniversary , a landmark figure that the Gujarat government and the central government are treating as an occasion for larger-scale celebrations at the Statue of Unity .
Where is the Statue of Unity located?
The Statue of Unity is located in Ekta Nagar (formerly Kevadia) in Gujarat . At 182 metres , it is the world's tallest statue and was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 31 October 2018 .
What did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel do at Ekta Nagar on 17 October 2026?
CM Bhupendra Patel inspected the main National Unity Day parade ground, reviewed advance arrangements for the celebrations, launched Ekta Prakash Parv-2026 , and held a meeting with senior officials to issue operational directions.
