Around 25,000 people are likely to attend the Rashtriya Ekta Divas parade on October 31 at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan said on Wednesday (October 21, 2026). October 31 is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.

The event is not an alternative to or a competition for the Republic Day parade, Mr. Mohan said. “Every event has its dignity, honour and place in the national perspective. Republic Day, which is to celebrate the coming to force of the Constitution, is sacred...It signifies an event which highlights the military capabilities of the country, it brings out the full might of the Indian armed forces on display. Ekta Divas is more to celebrate the achievements of the police forces, to showcase different elements, [and there is a] larger component of culture here. The perspective is slightly different. This year, we want to celebrate the end of Naxalism; the theme may be different next year. The core is the unity of the country. It’s not a competition to any other event,” Mr. Mohan said.

Ekta Nagar, where Sardar Patel’s Statue of Unity was inaugurated in 2018, is nestled between the Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges in Gujarat.

Around 2,000 artistes from 126 Naxal-affected districts across the country will participate in this year’s Ekta Divas parade, cultural performances and other events. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend.

The theme of this year’s cultural events at the Rashtriya Ekta Divas celebrations is Vande Mataram. In the 150th year of the Vande Mataram, many newly introduced features during this year’s parade have been drawn from the Vande Mataram.

In another new feature of this year’s celebrations, the parade and all the performances would be held in the evening due to high temperatures during the day, Mr. Mohan said.

Usually, the tableaux were made and designed by either government Ministries and Departments or by the State governments or other government entities. This time, designs and features were determined for the tableaux through national competitions run on MyGov at the national level, and also in every district of Gujarat.

Weaving together all the themes and designs received from the national and State-level competitions, a total of 15 tableaux would be based on these designs, made entirely by the public, without any involvement of any government Ministry or Department. The government is moving towards the idea that the tableaux at important events would incorporate the aspirations of the common people rather than the structured themes of government entities and State governments, Mr. Mohan said, with a people’s tableau witnessed for the first time in Ekta Nagar.

Among the new initiatives aimed at highlighting the achievements of the security forces were eliminating Naxalism; showcasing the country’s cultural diversity; including a play on Anandamath written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee; and a cultural programme by people who have settled in Gujarat from different parts of the country, he said.

Personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces, and other Central police organisations and State Police forces, which have played a crucial role in combating armed Naxalism, will participate.

As the contingents march past the PM, LED screens will showcase short films highlighting their achievements and contributions in maintaining peace and security in affected regions, Mr. Mohan said.

The cultural programme will bring together approximately 2,000 artistes representing 126 districts that have experienced the impact of Naxal violence over the years, Mr. Mohan said. Their participation will underline the resilience of communities that have endured conflict, and highlight the role of cultural expression in strengthening national integration, the Home Secretary said.