The Gujarat govt said that a grand parade will be held at Ektanagar, the site of the Statue of Unity, on Oct 31. Apart from showcasing the cultural heritage of various states, ten tableaus will present the achievements of different states at the parade. Rashtriya Ekta Divas will be celebrated this year to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. PM Narendra Modi will preside over the event, and after paying homage to Sardar Patel, the PM will be given a guard of honour by contingents of central security forces and Gujarat police. Highlights of the celebrations will be an air force fly-past under
Operation Suryakiran, a joint rifle drill by CRPF and Gujarat Police women personnel. Speaking to reporters in Gandhinagar, chief secretary Pankaj Joshi and DGP Vikas Sahay said that this year, a unique celebration of Rashtriya Ekta Divas has been planned with a parade that will follow the pattern of the Republic Day parade held annually in New Delhi on Jan 26.
Nine band contingents will join the Unity Parade, along with two school bands from Gujarat that won at the state level and two school bands that won at the national level, making a total of four school bands for the band display. The officials said that seating arrangements have been increased this year to allow more people to witness the unity parade, accommodating over 11,500 spectators.
Unity walk in Chicago
Chicago/Schaumburg marked the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel with a dedicated Unity Walk organised by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) in Chicago on October 25. Over 60 participants gathered to pay tribute to the statesman's enduring legacy. The event commenced with the American and Indian national anthems.
FIA President Hemant Patel explained that the title "Sardar," meaning leader, was earned by Vallabhbhai through his unwavering commitment, such as his role in the Bardoli Satyagraha. Patel highlighted Sardar’s critical role in uniting 565 princely states, asserting that without him, Bharat might have been fragmented. The event's primary objective, he stated, was to keep Patel's inspirational legacy alive. Amar Upadhyay, an FIA Executive, underscored Sardar’s decisive actions in the liberation of Hyderabad and Junagadh. Notably, community leaders, including Haribhai Patel, Dr. Rashmibhai Patel, and Sanjay Vora, formally proposed installing a Statue of Unity in Chicagoland to permanently honour Sardar Patel.