Meri Maati Mera Desh Campaign: Celebrating India's Cultural Vibrancy and Unity in Diversity

The Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign, which culminated on Tuesday with a mega finale attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saw people from all corners of India come together to celebrate the country's cultural vibrancy and unity in diversity.

New Delhi: From the northernmost reaches of Srinagar to the southern tip of Tirunelveli, and from the easternmost reaches of Sikkim to the westernmost reaches of Surat, the colors and soils of India merged on the Kartavya Path on Monday. People from all corners of the country, dressed in traditional fineries, converged at the majestic boulevard to celebrate the Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign.

Preparations Underway for Mega Finale

Preparations are underway at Vijay Chowk and Kartavya Path for the mega finale of the Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign on Tuesday, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event will mark the culmination of the Amrit Kalash Yatra held under this campaign. It will also signify the culmination of the two-year-long campaign Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav which began on March 12, 2021, to celebrate 75 years of India's Independence.

A Festive Look

On its eve, the Kartavya Path wore a festive look as people from different states and Union Territories came wearing traditional attire while state-wise cultural performances added to the milieu. Raja Raman, a 20-year-old student hailing from a block in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu wore a vesthi and kurta, while Promita Kachari from Udalguri district was dressed in a traditional Assamese costume from her region.

Amrit Kalash Yatra

The pots carrying sand were stacked on temporary berths made on the side lawns for the occasion as state representatives awaited their turn to deposit soil from their native places into a huge Amrit Kalash installed in the central area of the venue with the iconic Raisina Hill complex in the backdrop. Several people waved the Indian flag while many others broke into spontaneous dance moves to traditional beats, celebrating the occasion together with a spirit of bonhomie.

Cultural Performances

Several Amrit Kalash Yatris, NCC cadets, security personnel, and other visitors were seen taking selfies with those wearing traditional costumes. Women from Sikkim, who wore Newari costumes, drew a lot of attention and appreciation, while women from Rajasthan and Haryana dazzled in their traditional fineries. People also came from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which will mark their fourth anniversaries of becoming Union Territories, on Tuesday. The two UTs came into existence on October 31, 2019, after the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated.

Union Ministers Attend Celebrations

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, and Union Minister of State Ashwini Choubey also attended the celebrations on Monday. Bhatt and Thakur poured soil from a Kalash into the huge Amrit Kalash separately. Choubey attended the cultural performances themed on Bihar's traditions which also showcased the Chhath Puja, which is approaching.

Amrit Vatika

To celebrate 75 years of Independence, and during the Amrit Mahotsav time, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of an Amrit Vatika at Kartavya Path from the soil collected from lakhs of villages across the country on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary tomorrow, he told reporters. Officials earlier said that this Amrit Vatika will span about 12,000 sq m and will be completed in four to six months.

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

Thakur said that in the last two years, the country celebrated Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and crores of people participated in the lakhs of programs organized under it. A sea of people assembled today at Kartavya Path to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, and salute the country's soil and the martyrs, he said, adding, that the youth of the country is strengthening the vision of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.

Mega Finale on October 31st

On October 31, there will be a public program, open for all, from 12 noon to 2 pm with vibrant cultural performances. At 4 pm, Prime Minister Modi is slated to address the Amrit Kalash Yatris and the nation, remembering the brave hearts who laid down their lives for India to breathe free and to prosper, the Culture Ministry said in a statement on Friday. Prime Minister Modi will address the gathering during the final event of Meri Maati Mera Desh. Amrit Kalash Yatris from 7,000 blocks of 766 districts will be present during the event, the ministry said.

Launch of Mera Yuva Bharat

This event will also witness the launch of an autonomous body -- Mera Yuva Bharat MY Bharat -- which will help set the focus of the government on youth-led development and make the youth active drivers of development.