Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Culture Department has released its proposed cultural action plan for the financial year 2026–27, outlining a year-long series of festivals, fairs, workshops, and heritage celebrations across 54 districts of the state. The initiative aims to strengthen cultural consciousness, preserve traditional arts, and provide a vibrant platform for local artists and performers.
Announcing the calendar, Uttar Pradesh Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said that the state government has planned an extensive schedule of cultural activities from April 2026 to March 2027. The programs will be organized at major religious sites, educational institutions, heritage locations, and public venues, alongside large-scale cultural events such as the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show.
One of the key highlights of the calendar is the nine-day Sharadiya Navratri celebrations, scheduled from October 2026 in prominent temples across Lucknow and other districts. The festivities will feature devotional music, bhajans, kirtans, and recitations dedicated to Goddess Durga. Additionally, a three-day Valmiki Path is proposed from October 7, 2026, in Ram and Hanuman temples throughout the state.
The cultural calendar also includes district-specific events across Uttar Pradesh. Agra will host programs at Bateshwar, Vaikundi Devi Mahavidyalaya, and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, while celebrations marking the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be organized by the Directorate of Culture. Cultural festivals are also planned in Aligarh, Amroha, Azamgarh, and Ayodhya, including a three-day Sawan Jhula celebration at Ram Ki Paidi.
Ayodhya will remain a major focal point of the cultural calendar. The city is set to host a grand Deepotsav at Ram Katha Park in October 2026, along with a five-day Ramayana Mela in December. Other major events include Bharatkund Mahotsav, Sarayu Mahotsav, Ramayana Utsav, Tulsi Jayanti Mahotsav, Dhrupad Mahotsav, Kakori Martyrs’ Day commemorations, and the six-day Nandigram Ceremony, featuring a variety of cultural performances and artistic activities.
Several other districts will also witness major cultural events. Bahraich, Ballia, Balrampur, Banda, Bareilly, Chitrakoot, Farrukhabad, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hathras, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Kasganj, Kaushambi, Kushinagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lalitpur, Lucknow, Maharajganj, Mahoba, Mainpuri, Mathura, Meerut, Mirzapur, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Pilibhit, Prayagraj, Rae Bareli, Saharanpur, Sambhal, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shahjahanpur, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Varanasi, Ambedkar Nagar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Hamirpur, and Mau are among the districts included in the annual cultural roadmap.
The minister emphasized that workshops, folk music performances, dance programs, and heritage-based cultural events are being designed to connect local artists with their roots and ensure the preservation of traditional art forms. The initiative is expected to create greater public participation while promoting Uttar Pradesh’s rich cultural diversity.
For the successful execution of these activities, the government has earmarked ₹1 crore for artists’ honorariums and travel expenses associated with fairs, festivals, birth anniversaries of eminent personalities, and traditional celebrations. An additional ₹2.20 crore has been allocated for cultural programs organized during visits of dignitaries, including the President, Prime Minister, ministers, and other official events across the state.
Jaiveer Singh stated that the government’s vision is to combine faith, heritage conservation, and cultural revival through a structured annual calendar. The 2026–27 cultural plan, he said, will not only celebrate Uttar Pradesh’s spiritual and historical legacy but also provide renewed energy to the state’s cultural landscape through colorful and inclusive cultural programs throughout the year.
