Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hoisted the Tricolour at the Vidhan Bhavan in Lucknow on 15 August 2025, marking Uttar Pradesh's 80th Independence Day celebrations with a display of cultural unity and patriotic fervour. The event drew artists from across the country under the theme of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, Great India).

How the Celebrations Unfolded

The programme commenced at approximately 9:15 am with a rendition of the national song 'Vande Mataram' by students of Bhatkhande Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya. The 32nd Battalion PAC and the 35th Battalion PAC, accompanied by a military band, lent ceremonial discipline to the occasion. Flower petals were showered from the sky during cultural performances, and Chief Minister Adityanath released Tricolour balloons to enthusiastic chants of 'Jai Hind' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' from the crowd.

Cultural Diversity on a Single Stage

The Department of Culture curated a special programme that brought together performers from Bundelkhand, Purvanchal, Awadh, and western Uttar Pradesh, alongside artists from Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Bihar. The performances featured folk songs dedicated to 'Ganpati Bappa Morya' and 'Chhathi Maiya', as well as traditional folk dances from multiple states — a rare convergence of India's regional traditions on a single platform.

A tableau featuring Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Lakshman, presented by the Gauri Kala Mandapam group, drew particular attention. Kumkum Rastogi of Varanasi portrayed Goddess Sita, Ritvik Singh played Lord Ram, and Ayush Sahu portrayed Lakshman, with around 16 artists participating in the presentation. Rastogi described the performance as 'an auspicious and proud moment,' adding that 'there could be no greater opportunity for an artiste than to showcase their talent on such a grand stage.'

Artists Speak: Pride and Preparation

The Kathak and folk dance troupe from Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya comprised 20 Kathak dancers and six folk dancers, with the Kathak segment featuring a 'Tarana'. Both the Kathak troupe and the tableau team had rehearsed for approximately five days at the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Ravi Shankar from Mathura-Vrindavan delivered a Shankh (conch shell) recital, saying he felt 'proud to perform on the Independence Day stage' after four days of rehearsal. A 19-member troupe from Chhattisgarh presented 'Rela Pata', a traditional folk art form from Bastar, as part of a 15-minute multi-state performance. Troupe leader Kulbhushan Chandrakar thanked Chief Minister Adityanath and noted that Chhattisgarh is regarded as the maternal home of Mata Kaushalya, calling it an honour to perform in Uttar Pradesh. Neelam from Arunachal Pradesh called the occasion 'a moment of immense joy and pride,' while Bahubali Rajman led a 22-member team from Maharashtra, describing the cross-state experience as 'wonderful.'

Dignitaries Present

Legislative Council Chairman Kunwar Manvendra Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, Rajya Sabha MP Brijlal, MLC Pawan Singh, MLA Dr Neeraj Bora, and other public representatives and senior officials attended the event. The enthusiasm was particularly visible among children and members of the public, many of whom held the National Flag throughout the proceedings.

The celebrations reinforced Uttar Pradesh's role as a host of national cultural convergence, with the 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat' framework likely to continue shaping state-level Independence Day programming in the years ahead.