In a significant move to connect with its vast diaspora, the Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has decided to take the state's foundation day celebrations beyond its borders. During a high-level review meeting on Thursday, the CM instructed top officials to organise UP Diwas events in other Indian states and foreign nations that host a substantial population of people from Uttar Pradesh.
Celebrating UP's Spirit Across Borders
The directive specifically names states like Delhi and Maharashtra, known for their large migrant communities from UP. Furthermore, the celebrations are to be extended to countries with a significant number of non-resident Indians (NRIs) originally from Uttar Pradesh. The CM emphasised that Governors, Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, and other prominent personalities with roots in UP should be invited as chief guests at these external events.
Adding a layer of recognition for the diaspora's achievements, Adityanath stated that three to five individuals from Uttar Pradesh living in other states should be honoured for their notable contributions in fields like entrepreneurship, business, innovation, education, art, science, and administration.
Grand Plans for the Main Event in Lucknow
The core celebrations within the state will be centred at the newly inaugurated Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow. This site, which features statues of RSS and BJP icons Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2025. Additional events are scheduled at Noida Shilpgram in Gautam Buddh Nagar and at all district headquarters.
The Chief Minister outlined a rich cultural programme for the festivities, which will run from January 24 to January 26. He instructed that theatrical and cultural presentations linked to figures such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and themes like 'Vande Mataram' be included.
A Series of National Observances
The review meeting, attended by Chief Secretary Shashi Prakash Goyal, Principal Secretary to the CM Sanjay Prasad, and Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna, also covered plans for a series of national days. The CM directed officials to celebrate Youth Day on January 12, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti on January 23, National Tourism Day/Voters’ Awareness Day on January 25, and Republic Day on January 26 with grandeur.
On Netaji's birth anniversary, January 23, the Civil Defence has been tasked with organising mock drills in every district of the state.
To foster local talent, the government will organise singing, instrumental music, dance, and theatre competitions at the block, municipal, and district levels. Top artists will get the chance to perform at divisional and state-level programmes in Lucknow. The main state event will also see the felicitation of a wide array of achievers, including Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman recipients, ODOP beneficiaries, Vishwakarma Shram Samman awardees, and outstanding women, doctors, farmers, and scientists.
The CM has also instructed that institutions like Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Sangeet Natak Akademi, and Lalit Kala Akademi be involved to enhance the scale and appeal of the Uttar Pradesh Day celebrations.
