Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday said the Government will mark the 150th birth anniversary of Vallabhbhai Patel with a series of events highlighting his message of unity and nation-building.
Speaking at a press conference, Sood said, as part of the celebrations, 150 students from Delhi will carry water from the Yamuna river to 25 states across the country and collect water from prominent rivers over there, including the Jhelum in Jammu and Kashmir.
As part of the “Sardar @150” initiative numerous inspirational programmes will be organised across Delhi in response to the call of the Central Government and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The two-month-long campaign will carry the message of “Ek Bharat, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Ekjut Bharat, Viksit Bharat”, while also promoting national unity, drug-free living and a clean Yamuna among the youth.
Sood said that This 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel will rekindle the spirit of unity from Kashmir to Kanyakumari that he once envisioned.
As part of this historic campaign, 150 students from 15 educational districts of Delhi will collect water from the Yamuna River, which will then be carried to 25 major rivers across the country including the Jhelum in Jammu and Kashmir and the Musi River in Hyderabad.
In exchange, sacred water from these rivers will be brought back to Delhi and offered at the Sardar Patel statue at Patel Chowk, symbolising the ‘National Unity Water Pledge’. On October 31 the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will perform the Jalabhishek (ritual offering) at the statue using this collected water.
A documentary film based on this entire campaign will also be screened during the main ceremony.
The Education Minister further announced that on October 31, 2025, at 6.00 pm, state-level “Ekta Padyatras” (Unity Marches) will be organised across Delhi’s 11 revenue districts under the leadership of the Chief Minister. The marches, beginning at Patel Chowk and concluding at the National War Memorial, will see the participation of around 5,000 people, including students, teachers, youth and volunteers from NSS, NCC and My Bharat.
Each district’s event will culminate in cultural and motivational programmes designed to promote patriotism, discipline, and unity among students. From November 1 to November 25, In Delhi’s 10 districts, there will be a dedicated 15-kilometer march collectively forming a 150-kilometer-long campaign.
These marches will be led by Delhi’s Members of Parliament, Ministers, MLAs, Padma awardees, distinguished professionals, and other prominent personalities. He said that the celebrations will begin with a
Unity March on October 31, starting from the statue and concluding at the National War Memorial.
The march, to be led by the Chief Minister, will be followed by 150 similar marches between October 31 and November 25 across 10 districts of Delhi. Various ministers, judges, Padma Shri awardees and other dignitaries will take part in these marches to spread Patel’s message of unity and national integration, he added.
On November 1 which marks the Foundation Day of Delhi and nine other states will witness a grand cultural event and projection mapping show at the Red Fort on the theme “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat - Aatmanirbhar Bharat” the programme will showcase the culture, cuisine, and achievements of various Indian states, with active participation from Delhi’s students and youth reflecting the spirit of public participation.
To mark Delhi’s foundation day on November 1, a special programme will be organised at the Red Fort with the participation of representatives contributing the river water, Sood said. He said all events will be conducted by students and young volunteers, with no involvement of professional artists. Poster-making competitions will also be organised across 15 districts and 150 selected winners will get an opportunity to visit the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, he added.