PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL WILL LEAD THE DANDI PADYATRA TO BE FLAGGED OFF BY THE PRIME MINISTER TOMORROW FROM SABARMATI ASHRAM ON THE BEGINNING OF GLORIOUS AZADI KA AMRUT MAHOTSAV Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture & Tourism has said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav and will flag off the Padyatra from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad tomorrow. Addressing a press conference here today, he said that the Government has decided to organize a series of events to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence as ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’ beginning from 12th March, 2021 to 15th August, 2022. He informed that State Governments and Union Territories will also organize programmes on 12th March, 2021. The Minister said that Mahatma Gandhi along with 81 persons had initiated the famous Dandi Padyatra from 12th March to 6th April, 1930. The Padyatra to be flagged off by the Prime Minister tomorrow will cover a journey of 241 miles from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad to Dandi in Navsari and will end on 5th April, 2021 lasting for 25 days. 81 Marchers will participate in the Padyatra and different groups of people will be joining it on the way to Dandi. Patel will lead the first 75 Kilometre of Padyatra with 81 social workers from different states till 16th March at Nadiad, Gujarat. It was on 12th March, 1930 that Gandhiji began the Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram against the Salt Laws along with 81 padyatris.
During the Padyatra, the Culture Minister will stay overnight with the Padyatris at the place of night halt and the Padyatra will start from the same place the next day. Patel will meet and interact with the local people at the place of night stay. Starting from Sabarmati on March 12, this march will continue till it reaches Nadiad on March 16. Similarly, a group of 81 youths from Gujarat will also start a padyatra from Sabarmati on March 12 and these padyatris will go up to to Dandi.
The Minister said that Government has decided to commemorate the 75th anniversary of independence as Amrut Mahotsav. Weekly events will be organized during the forthcoming 75 weeks till 15th August 2022. He said that every week an event will be held. To ensure the involvement of all citizens in this Mahotsav, various programes will be organized as per their interest with Ministry of Culture being in the supporting role.
