UP shows cultural strength, tourism potential at Bharat Parv

Lucknow/Gujarat: Uttar Pradesh took centrestage at Bharat Parv 2025 at the Statue of Unity complex on Wednesday with a vibrant showcase of its spiritual, cultural, and tourism heritage. The 15-day national festival, being held from Nov 1 to 15, marks the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and is themed ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, along with deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh, and Jal Shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh attended the Uttar Pradesh Day celebrations. The leaders paid floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel before inaugurating the state's tourism pavilion. An official spokesperson said that the Uttar Pradesh Pavilion emerged as a key attraction for visitors, offering a detailed glimpse into the state's diverse tourism circuits. Displays highlighted the Spiritual Triangle of Ayodhya, Prayagraj, and Varanasi, the Bundelkhand heritage trail, Kannauj's perfume legacy, and the Buddhist Circuit. The pavilion also featured sections on eco-tourism, rural tourism, cuisine, and wellness, projecting Uttar Pradesh as a multi-dimensional destination. Tourism and culture minister Jaiveer Singh said the event reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. "Uttar Pradesh represents faith, diversity, and tradition. In the first half of 2025, the state recorded over 1 billion tourist visits, including a significant number of international travellers," he said. Singh added that new circuits are being developed in areas such as cuisine, MICE, and medical tourism to expand opportunities. The pavilion received several distinguished visitors, including Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu, Meghalaya CM K Sangma, and Gujarat deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi.They praised the presentation and interacted with officials and artists. Deputy Director Tourism Kirti briefed them about Uttar Pradesh's tourism growth and plans for collaboration under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative. Visitors explored stalls showcasing handicrafts, traditional perfumes, and local cuisine, while artists from across Uttar Pradesh presented live performances. The evening's cultural programme featured 72 artists performing 12 traditional and classical art forms, including Kathak, Pai Danda, Faruwahi, Badhawa Nritya, Mayur, Rai, and Tharu dances. Projection mapping shows, live craft demonstrations, and studio kitchen sessions added to the experience, attracting large crowds throughout the day. The cultural finale brought all troupes together for a combined performance reflecting the theme of unity in diversity. Officials said Uttar Pradesh's presentation at Bharat Parv not only highlighted its cultural and spiritual strengths but also its growing focus on experiential and sustainable tourism.