Foundation day of 15 states, UTs celebrated at Raj Bhavan in Shimla

“Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”, the foundation day of 15 states, including Union Territories, was celebrated on Tuesday at the Raj Bhavan here today. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said the primary goal of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” was to encourage interaction and cultural exchange among states. “Through partnerships, states get an opportunity to share their culture, customs and traditions with each other,” said Shukla. This helps citizens, especially youth, to broaden their perspectives with better understanding, thus strengthening national bonding.

The Governor said the objective of celebrating this day was to strengthen the spirit of fraternity, integrity and love for the nation and recognise the efforts of the people who strived hard for getting statehood.

Lady Governor Janaki Shukla was also present on the occasion. She also honoured the citizens of 15 states.

Shukla said “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” is not just a programme, but a vision of Prime Minster Narendra Modi for a united, prosperous and harmonious India. “It teaches us that when we stand together, we can achieve our dreams. As we move forward, let us embrace the spirit of this initiative, understanding that in the end our shared identity as Indians is what matters most,” he said.

Shukla said we may belong to any state, community, caste or creed, but we are Indians first and it was essential to sensitise all sections of society and spread the message of unanimity and love. The Governor said such get-together programmes fulfill the concept of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.

People from Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh participated in the programme. They also interacted with the Governor and shared their experiences in Himachal Pradesh and also briefed him about the culture and customs of their states.