Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in the grand celebrations of National Unity Day 2025, marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 150th birth anniversary at the Statue of Unity at Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, today.
The event will feature a grand parade, cultural performances, and tributes showcasing India’s unity and diversity. National Unity Day, also known as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, is celebrated every year on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The day is dedicated to promoting national unity, integrity and security.
It also encourages citizens to take pride in their nation and culture. This year’s celebrations will feature a grand parade and cultural programme highlighting the strength, discipline, and courage of India’s security forces.
The parade will include contingents from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and police units from several states, including Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh. Cadets from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) will also take part in the event.
Under the theme “Unity in Diversity,” tableaux from 10 states and Union Territories, along with the National Security Guard (NSG) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), will be displayed.
The parade will also honour five Shaurya Chakra awardees from CRPF and sixteen gallantry medal winners from BSF who displayed exceptional courage in anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand and counter-terror operations in Jammu & Kashmir. BSF personnel will also be recognised for their valour during Operation Sindoor.
To mark the day, the Unity March will unfold in two phases. The first phase, taking place from October 31- November 25, 2025, will feature district-level foot marches across all districts within every Parliamentary constituency.
Alongside the padyatra, a range of developmental initiatives will be undertaken across districts -such as cleanliness drives at water bodies, tree plantation drives under the “Sardar Upvan” initiative, women’s welfare camps, yoga and health camps, and “Vocal for Local” promotional campaigns.
The second phase will begin from November 26 to December 6, 2025, will cover 152 kilometres from Karamsad, Sardar Patel’s birthplace in Gujarat, to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, incorporating community development activities in villages along the route with participation from NSS students, NCC cadets, and young leaders.
An exhibition showcasing India’s diverse culture and Sardar Patel’s life will also be organised. In the run-up to the celebration, the government will also organise a campaign, the “Run for Unity,” a nationwide marathon across major cities, including flag-off events in New Delhi led by Union Ministers, symbolising collective strides toward national cohesion.
Earlier, Prime Minister Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon citizens to participate in the Run for Unity event, commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
