• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in an event here on October 31 which will mark the conclusion of the Amrit Kalash Yatra organized under the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign. The Culture Ministry gave this information on Friday. The ministry said that Amrit Kalash pilgrims from 7,000 blocks of 766 districts will be present in the two-day program to be organized at Vijay Chowk and Dutva Path.

  • The ministry said in a statement that Prime Minister Modi will address the final program of the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign. The event will also see the launch of an autonomous body – My Youth India (MY Bharat) – which will help focus the government’s attention on youth-led development and make youth “active drivers” of development. “The objective of this autonomous body is to inspire youth to become community change agents and nation builders, thereby acting as ‘youth bridge’ between the government and citizens,” the ministry said.

  • It will also mark the culmination of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, a two-year-long campaign that began on March 12, 2021, to celebrate 75 years of India’s independence. It said that under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, more than two lakh programs have been organized across the country with enthusiastic public participation. For the final event of ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ (MMMD), more than 20,000 Amrit Kalash Yatris from 36 states and union territories will participate in the two-day event to be held at Dutva Path and Vijay Chowk on October 30-31, the statement said. To participate in the program, people are reaching the national capital by October 29 by various means like special trains, buses and local transport.

  • According to this, these Amrit Kalash pilgrims will stay in two camps – Dhanchiri Camp in Gurugram, and Radha Soami Satsang Beas Camp in Delhi. The ministry said that on October 30, representatives of block and urban local bodies of all states will pour soil from their ‘Kalash’ into a huge ‘Amrit Kalash’, reflecting the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. The ministry said that popular art forms of each state will be displayed during the ceremony of pouring soil into the Amrit Kalash. The program will start at 10.30 am and will continue till late evening.

  • The ministry said that there will be a public event with live cultural performances from 12 noon to 2 pm on October 31, which will be open to all. It said that at 4 pm, Prime Minister Modi will address the Amrit Kalash pilgrims and the nation and remember those brave men who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom and prosperity.

  • The statement said that in its first phase, the MMMD campaign was very successful, with more than 2.33 lakh Shilaphalakams created in 36 states and union territories, nearly four crore Panch Pran Pratigya selfies uploaded and more than two lakhs across the country. ‘Vandan to the Brave’ programs were organised. Additionally, more than 2.36 crore indigenous saplings have been planted and 2.63 lakh Amrit Vatikas have been created under the theme of Vasudha Vandan, the statement said.

  • The statement said that in the second phase, a plan was made to take Amrit Kalash Yatras to every house in the country. According to the statement, soil and rice grains were collected from more than six lakh villages in rural areas and wards in urban areas across India. It said the ‘soil’ collected from each village was mixed at the block level and then brought to the state capital, and with a ceremonial farewell, the Amrit Kalash was sent to the national capital along with thousands of pilgrims.