U.P. Diwas 2024: This is how the state is ready to celebrate!

After the massive consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir witnessed by Uttar Pradesh recently, the state is ready to celebrate the U.P. Diwas 2024 starting today. After India gained independence in 1947, U.P. which was a cluster of provinces was renamed Uttar Pradesh on 24 January 1950 under the guidance of Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari who was the then Governor General. Since then, the state might have gone through a lot of changes but what has remained the same is the celebration of its foundation day on the same date. 

In the three-day celebrations in Uttar Pradesh, the government has planned a lot of events in various districts including Lucknow, Noida, and New Delhi where the Department of Culture and Tourism has planned multiple programmes. With the theme of this year, "Uttar Pradesh: Rich Spiritual and Cultural Heritage", the state aims to reflect the cultural tapestry throughout the three days. 

Exhibitions to showcase the state's art and culture

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The state government has planned to host exhibitions, all aimed at showcasing the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh. Moreover, the exhibitions and sales will feature products from various districts under the One District One Product Scheme. Adding to the celebrations will be diverse performances from various states at these festivals and exhibitions. Around 100 stalls will be set up at the ODOP and handicraft exhibition, including displays related to AI, cultural heritage, the Ramayana tradition of Ayodhya, and eco-tourism in UP.

Out of all, the focal point of the celebration will be the 'Awadh Shilpgram' in the capital city, Lucknow which will house a special exhibition organized by the Directorate of Museums and Archaeology. The exhibition will aim to highlight the state’s spiritual and cultural heritage records. Entry to the festival will be free from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Apart from that, the government has also planned for a painting camp and exhibition organized by the State Fine Arts Academy, another exhibition on the history of Uttar Pradesh by the State Archives, and a cultural exhibition by the International Vedic and Ramayana Research Institute from Ayodhya. Additionally, tribal products will be displayed through the Social Welfare Department’s sale and exhibition, and Awadh Crafts Village will host Hunar Haat, all in Lucknow. 

Eminent personalities to be rewarded 

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The U.P. government will also reward the athletes who have brought laurels to the state on national and international platforms. Along with this, the government will felicitate Dr. Ritu Karidhal Srivastava with 'U.P. Gaurav Samman' for her contribution to the Chandrayaan mission as the Mission Director of Mission Moon at Lucknow's Mission Directorate. She, who has been working with ISRO since 1997 has studied at Lucknow University and played an important role in the development of India's Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan. Dr. Srivastava had served as the Deputy Operations Director for this mission. 

Another personality to be rewarded by the government is the entrepreneur Naveen Tewari, a Kanpur resident who has developed India’s first unicorn InMobi. For having developed the world's largest independent mobile network connecting the local businesses of Uttar Pradesh with national and international audiences. While he has also been featured in Forbes and Fortune, it is his work that is going to reward him on the foundation Day of his birth state. 

With inputs from HT and UNI.