LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that this year’s Uttar Pradesh Foundation Day, popularly known as UP Diwas, be celebrated not just within the state but also in other parts of India and abroad. The celebrations, scheduled from January 24 to 26, will now reach major states such as Delhi and Maharashtra, home to large populations of people originally from Uttar Pradesh, as well as countries with significant UP diaspora communities.
Chairing a high-level review meeting with Chief Secretary Shashi Prakash Goyal, Principal Secretary to the CM Sanjay Prasad, and Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna, CM Yogi said that UP Diwas must reflect the global presence of Uttar Pradesh’s culture, talent, and identity. He instructed officials to organise grand celebrations even in countries where a large number of people from Uttar Pradesh reside.
In a bid to recognise the achievements of those who have made the state proud, the Chief Minister directed that three to five distinguished individuals from Uttar Pradesh living in other states, who have excelled in fields like entrepreneurship, business, innovation, education, art, science, or administration, be honoured during the celebrations. He also asked officials to invite Governors, Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, and other eminent personalities with roots in Uttar Pradesh to join the festivities as special guests.
The main state-level celebration will be held at the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, a newly inaugurated cultural landmark in Lucknow that features tall statues of national icons such as Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the site on December 25. In addition to Lucknow, parallel events will take place at Noida Shilpgram in Gautam Buddh Nagar and at all district headquarters across the state.
CM Yogi has emphasised that the programmes must celebrate Uttar Pradesh’s rich cultural legacy. The events will include theatrical performances, dance, music, and art performances linked to national icons such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Dharti Aba Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and patriotic works such as Vande Mataram and Anand Math. To ensure broad participation, the Chief Minister instructed that competitions in singing, instrumental music, dance, and theatre be conducted at the block, municipal, and district levels. Winners from each stage will perform at divisional events, and the best among them will get the opportunity to perform at the main state function in Lucknow.
The Chief Minister said the UP Diwas event will also serve as a platform to felicitate achievers and contributors to the state’s development. Recipients of the Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman, along with beneficiaries of ODOP (One District One Product), Vishwakarma Shram Samman, and entrepreneurs under the Mati Kala Board, will be honoured. Additionally, outstanding women, doctors, progressive farmers, scientists, and sports champions will be recognised for their achievements.
CM Yogi emphasised that local artists, poets, and cultural practitioners should be prioritised in district-level programmes to encourage local talent. Ministers, heads of corporations and boards, and public representatives will also be invited to participate in celebrations across all districts.
He also directed that premier cultural institutions like Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Lalit Kala Akademi be involved in curating and organising programmes to enhance the artistic quality of the celebrations.
Week of National Spirit and Patriotism
The Foundation Day festivities are part of a week-long celebration of national pride, with several important dates leading up to Republic Day. Cultural and awareness programmes across the state will mark each of these days. CM Yogi directed that:
- January 12: National Youth Day (Swami Vivekananda Jayanti)
- January 23: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti
- January 24: Uttar Pradesh Day (UP Diwas)
- January 25: National Tourism Day and Voters’ Awareness Day
- January 26: Republic Day
To promote civic responsibility, the Chief Minister also instructed the Civil Defence Department to conduct mock drills across all districts on January 23, coinciding with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary.
