The Sports and Youth Services Department of Odisha commemorated Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, October 31, 2026, marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Sports and Youth Services Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj attended the event as the Chief Guest, offering floral tributes at the statue of the ‘Iron Man of India’ before leading a state-wide Unity March.
Pledge Administered and Unity March Flagged Off
Addressing the gathering, Minister Suraj called upon the youth, sportspersons, and civil society members to draw inspiration from Sardar Patel’s leadership, which unified over 560 princely states into a sovereign republic post-independence:
”Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and the Unity March are organized to honor the enduring legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, we must all contribute towards achieving the vision of Viksit Odisha 2036 and Viksit Bharat 2047, while strengthening the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.”
Following his address, the Minister administered the National Unity Pledge to hundreds of participating athletes, National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, university students, and social workers before flagging off the annual Unity March around the Kalinga Stadium sports complex.
Key Administrative & Civil Participation
The event saw active participation from state department heads, sports administrators, and public figures across Odisha:
- Key Dignitaries: Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Sports & Youth Services Shri Bhupendra Singh Poonia, former MLA Priyadarshi Mishra, Golak Mohapatra, Jagannath Pradhan, and Sudipta Ray were present alongside senior departmental officials.
- Statewide Engagement: Similar Unity Marches and pledge-taking ceremonies were conducted across district headquarters in Odisha to promote communal harmony and national integration.
