NEW DELHI: Tiranga Yatras were held across several parts of the country on Sunday as political leaders and citizens joined marches carrying the Tricolour ahead of India’s 80th Independence Day on August 15. The events were organised as part of the broader ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, with participants paying tribute to freedom fighters and promoting the message of national unity and patriotism.From Lucknow and Kharagpur to Narnaul, the marches brought together political leaders, students, young people and citizens. Participants carried the national flag and raised patriotic slogans as part of events planned in the run-up to Independence Day.The celebrations are also being linked to the commemoration of 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram‘, with activities planned across states during the campaign period.
Yatras held across states
In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in a Tiranga Yatra organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The march began from the chief minister’s residence at 5, Kalidas Marg and proceeded towards the Vidhan Bhavan.Thousands of young people participated in the procession, carrying the Tricolour and raising slogans including “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”.Adityanath said the yatra was an expression of gratitude towards freedom fighters and martyrs and urged participants to maintain discipline during the march.“This Tiranga Yatra is an expression of gratitude towards all those martyrs and a resolve to carry forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘nation first’,” he said.He also urged people to participate in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign and hoist the national flag at their homes with due respect.In Kharagpur, West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh participated in another Tiranga Yatra and said similar programmes would be organised across the state.“The Tiranga Yatra is being held across Bengal, with the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign taking the national flag to every household… The programme has started today and will be held in other districts as well. A major event will take place in Kolkata on the 10th, with thousands of people expected to participate,” Ghosh said.The West Bengal government has announced plans to distribute 70 lakh national flags across the state as part of the campaign. A major Tiranga rally is also scheduled in Kolkata on August 10.
Haryana combines Tiranga campaign with fitness drive
In Haryana’s Narnaul, chief minister Nayab Singh Saini flagged off a state-level half marathon organised under the ‘Haryana Uday Abhiyan’ with the theme “Har Ghar Tiranga”.The event combined the Independence Day campaign with a message on fitness and the need to tackle drug abuse among young people.“Carrying this vision forward, we have taken the message of a drug-free Haryana to the masses through the ‘Haryana Uday’ initiative. Whether through marathons, cyclothons, Raahgiri events, or various public awareness programs, we are actively engaging lakhs of young people and citizens in this mass movement,” Saini said.He also spoke about action against drug trafficking in the state, saying illegal assets worth approximately Rs 53 crore had been seized and 111 properties acquired through illicit means had been demolished.
What is Har Ghar Tiranga?
The ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign was launched in 2022 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. The initiative encourages citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes and develop a personal connection with the Tricolour.The campaign also seeks to honour the sacrifices of freedom fighters and strengthen the spirit of patriotism among citizens.
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This year’s campaign includes Tiranga rallies and processions, exhibitions, concerts, bike and cycle rallies, tricolour lighting of important locations, decorations and Rangoli programmes.Special activities are also being organised under the theme “Tiranga Salute to the Spirit of Vande Mataram”, along with the “Selfie with Tiranga” initiative.The National Flag will also be hoisted at households and government offices during the campaign period.With Independence Day approaching, more Tiranga Yatras and public programmes are expected to be held across states as part of the nationwide celebrations.
