Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on October 31 marks Sardar Patel’s 151st birth anniversary. PM Modi joins the Ekta Parade at Ekta Nagar, and Bharat Parv runs till November 15.
Updated: 30 October 2026, 10:00 AM IST
Quick Read:
- Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is observed every October 31, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary. This year is his 151st.
- PM Modi offers floral tributes at the Statue of Unity at about 9 AM on October 31, then joins the Ekta Parade at about 5:30 PM.
- Bharat Parv 2026, a festival of India’s states and cultures, runs at Ekta Nagar from October 30 to November 15.
October 31 is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day. It marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, born on October 31, 1875. This year is his 151st birth anniversary.
The main celebration happens at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, at the foot of the Statue of Unity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be there on October 30 and 31 for a packed two-day visit, including the Ekta Parade, new projects worth over Rs 400 crore, and the Bharat Parv cultural festival.
This guide covers who Patel was, why October 31 is his day, the full Ekta Nagar schedule, and how you can join or watch from anywhere in India.
Who was Sardar Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is called the Iron Man of India. He was independent India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and first Home Minister.
His biggest work came right after independence in 1947. India then had hundreds of princely states, each ruled by its own king. Patel led the effort to bring them into one Indian Union. Without that work, the map of India would look very different today.
That is why his birth anniversary is called Unity Day. The day honours the man who stitched the country together, and it asks citizens to keep that unity alive.
The Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar shows his place in public memory. The Press Information Bureau calls it the largest statue in the world of Sardar Patel. It stands on the Narmada river at Kevadia, in Narmada district of Gujarat.
Why October 31
The date is simple: it is Patel’s birthday. He was born on October 31, 1875, in Gujarat. Every year on this date, schools, offices and government bodies hold unity pledges and Runs for Unity.
Note that Ekta Diwas is an observance, not a gazetted public holiday. Schools and offices stay open, and that is exactly where the pledge and the run happen.
This year closes a two-year commemoration of Patel’s 150th anniversary that began in 2024. The 151st anniversary keeps the same focus: national unity, integrity and security.
What happens at Ekta Nagar on October 31
The Prime Minister’s October 31 schedule, per his office, runs like this:
- About 9:00 AM — floral tributes at the Statue of Unity.
- About 9:15 AM — foundation stones laid and projects inaugurated and dedicated to the nation, worth over Rs 400 crore. These include a sewage and water treatment plant, facade lighting, the upgrade of Narmada Ghat, an IRCTC hotel, and the Rainforest, Unity and Eco Trail.
- Later in the morning — a visit to the Rain Forest and Vaman Vriksha Vatika in Ekta Nagar.
- About 5:30 PM — Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations and the Ekta Parade.
The parade is the centrepiece. Contingents from Central Armed Police Forces, state police forces and central police organisations will march. This year’s parade has been made more vibrant and diverse, per the Union Home Secretary, and it puts the spotlight on the security forces’ fight against armed Naxalism.
The Home Ministry says the parade celebrates the end of armed Naxalism in the country in 2026. Around 5,000 people from 126 districts that once suffered Naxalism have been invited as spectators.
Culture shares the stage with the parade. The National School of Drama will present a theatrical show on “Naxal Mukt Bharat” with about 2,000 artists drawn from those 126 districts. A separate cultural performance by 5,000 artists will showcase “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. The theme for this year’s theatrical play before the Prime Minister is “Anandamath”, the novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya.
The overarching theme of this year’s celebrations is “Vande Mataram”. Tableaux in the parade will carry people’s aspirations for the first time, per the Home Ministry.
Bharat Parv and the light festival
The celebrations start a day early. On October 30 at about 5:00 PM, the Prime Minister inaugurates Bharat Parv 2026 at Ekta Nagar. The festival runs until November 15.
Bharat Parv is a showcase of India’s states and Union Territories: folk performances, regional cuisines, handicrafts and tourist attractions, all in one place. It is built around the spirit of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” — one India, great India.
The same evening brings light. At about 7:45 PM on October 30, the Prime Minister witnesses Ekta Prakash Parv, a festival of illumination, followed by Narmada Aarti at about 8:15 PM.
Two light displays stand out. A 530-metre illuminated stretch along Valley of Flowers Road carries the theme “From Ancient India to Modern India”, covering national identity, civilisation, women’s empowerment, security forces, technology, yoga and a children’s world. A 180-metre Glow Tunnel carries the theme “Unity in India’s Diversity”, walking visitors through the cultures, architecture, folk dances, handicrafts and lifestyles of India’s four regions.
If you plan a trip, Bharat Parv’s three-week run gives you time. Ekta Nagar and nearby destinations expect a tourism boost through November 15.
Events across India
Ekta Diwas is not only an Ekta Nagar event. Runs for Unity, unity pledges and cultural programmes will run across villages, towns and cities on October 31.
Gujarat has set up a state-level committee under Chief Secretary M. K. Das to coordinate events, with district and taluka committees below it. Programmes across the state begin between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM with the collective singing of Vande Mataram, an Ekta Parade, patriotic performances by local artists and felicitation of people who have served society. The Ekta Parade at the Statue of Unity will be telecast live across the country from 5:30 PM, and the Prime Minister’s address will be watched collectively through a live telecast from 7:10 PM.
In Delhi, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will hold a Unity Run at Electronics Niketan on October 31. The run also closes the ministry’s Special Campaign 6.0, which ran from October 2 to 31 and focused on clearing pending work, e-waste handling and cleanliness. The Unity Run is part of the seventh edition of the Fit India Freedom Run 2026, which ran from October 2 to 31 with the message “Fitness Ke Dose, Aadha Ghanta Roz” — 30 minutes of activity every day.
Schools and colleges will hold their own Runs for Unity and pledge ceremonies. Many cities also hold motorcycle rallies, essay contests and painting contests for students.
How you can join or watch
Joining is easy. Look for your local Run for Unity or pledge ceremony on October 31 — schools, colleges, resident associations and government offices organise them in most towns. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water, and reach early, since runs usually start in the morning.
If you cannot join a run, take the unity pledge at your school, office or home. The pledge is a short promise to protect the unity and integrity of the nation. Families can also watch the Ekta Parade live from 5:30 PM on October 31 and the Prime Minister’s address from 7:10 PM.
Planning a visit? Ekta Nagar’s Bharat Parv runs till November 15, so you are not limited to October 31. Check Statue of Unity ticket timings before you travel, since October 31 itself is a high-security, high-crowd day.
One last note for travellers: October 31 is not a public holiday, so trains, buses and hotels run on normal schedules. Book early if you plan to be in Kevadia for the parade weekend.
FAQ
Q: What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas?
A: It is National Unity Day, observed every October 31 on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary. It honours his role in uniting India’s princely states into one nation.
Q: What is happening at Ekta Nagar on October 31, 2026?
A: PM Modi pays floral tributes at the Statue of Unity at about 9 AM, inaugurates projects worth over Rs 400 crore, and joins the Ekta Parade and celebrations at about 5:30 PM. The theme is “Vande Mataram”.
Q: How can I join or watch the celebrations?
A: Join a local Run for Unity or pledge ceremony in your town, or watch the Ekta Parade live from 5:30 PM and the PM’s address from 7:10 PM on October 31. Bharat Parv at Ekta Nagar runs till November 15 if you want to visit.
Also read: Modi in Gujarat: PM-KISAN payout today · US Fed rates, rupee and gold · India-US trade deal: final stages
Pingback: Modi in Gujarat: Rs 19,000 cr PM-KISAN payout today