Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath administration is preparing for a grand week-long celebration to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Atal Shatabdi Samaroh, taking place from December 19 to 25, will offer tributes to the esteemed leader with cultural events, exhibitions, and homage ceremonies.
The centenary festivities will officially commence on Thursday at the Sangeet Natak Academy’s Sant Gadge Ji Maharaj Auditorium. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the celebrations, which are being jointly organized by the Department of Culture and the Department of Higher Education. The event will feature poetry recitations, cultural performances, and various exhibitions showcasing Vajpayee’s life and legacy.
On December 25, the final day of the week-long celebrations, winners of various competitions will be honored. The State Lalit Kala Academy and the UP State Archives will host special exhibitions focusing on Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s many roles as a poet, critic, effective administrator, model politician, and steadfast prime minister. According to Dr. Shraddha Shukla, director of the Lalit Kala Academy, the exhibitions aim to inspire both current and future generations through the extraordinary personality and legacy of Atal Ji.
Over thirty paintings created by artists from districts across Uttar Pradesh will be displayed, highlighting various aspects of Vajpayee’s life. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh will engage in cultural exchanges by entering into memorandums of understanding with states such as Manipur, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh under the “Ek Bharat-Shrestha Bharat” initiative.
In partnership with the Uttar Pradesh Information Department, the Sangeet Natak Academy will also host an exhibition on good governance. On the centennial of Vajpayee’s birth, the Chief Minister will honor the former Prime Minister by presenting flowers at his statue at Lok Bhavan. The exhibition at Lok Bhavan on Good Governance Day will highlight Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s remarkable life and accomplishments.
On December 25, the winners of the week’s festivities will receive congratulations in a special ceremony. The centenary celebrations promise to be a fitting tribute to the life and legacy of one of India’s most revered leaders.
