OREANDA-NEWS. Shri Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, will inaugurate “Bharat Parv” at the Rajpath Lawns, India Gate, New Delhi tomorrow. Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, will be the Guest of Honour. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Culture & Tourism, will preside over the function. Addressing Media persons here today, Shri Vinod Zutshi, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism informed them that the “Bharat Parv” is being organized by Government of India as part of Independence Day celebrations-2016. The prime objective of organizing the event is to generate a patriotic mood, promote the rich cultural diversity of the country and to ensure wider participation of the general public.

The Event is open to the public and entry is free. However, identity proof is to be carried for entry.

He said that the Ministry of Tourism has been designated as the nodal Ministry for the event, the highlights of which will include Performances by the Armed Forces Bands (static and moving), a Multi-Cuisine Food Court, Crafts Mela, Cultural Performances from different regions of the country including Delhi-based cultural organizations and associations of various states and a Photo Exhibition by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

Shri Zutshi said that the Cultural Performances include choreographed Folk / Tribal Dances and Music arranged through the North Zonal Cultural Centre as well as performances by cultural troupes from the different States/ UTs of the country. The Food Court will have 50 stalls set up by the States / UTs, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) showcasing street food from different regions as well as by the Institutes of Hotel Management and ITDC. The Crafts Mela with 50 stalls will showcase the diverse handicrafts of the country, arranged by the State Governments and Ministry of Textiles through the Office of the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts. There will be 17 Theme State Pavilions where each State would showcase their achievements and initiatives, tourism products and destinations, etc. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is also setting up “Azadi 70 Saal- Yaad Karo Kurbani” – a Photo Exhibition on the occasion of 70th Independence Day celebrations.

He said that the participating States and Union Territories in the Event are Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu and Dadra – Nagar Haveli, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.