Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Independence Day 2026: Yogi Adityanath Honours Artists From Eight States
On India's 80th Independence Day, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, hosted a big celebration in the city of Lucknow.
He invited artists from eight different states across India.
The artists showed their special folk dances and songs from their hometowns.
Some came from faraway places like Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister told them that sharing cultures makes India strong and united.
He even arranged trips to the famous city of Ayodhya for artists who wanted to visit.
One artist from Chhattisgarh playfully called him 'Bulldozer Baba.'
The Chief Minister laughed and said he can at least get the bulldozer to run over wrongdoers.
At the end, every artist received a certificate of appreciation.
The celebration showed that India's many cultures are its greatest strength.
On August 15, 2026, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath honoured folk artists from eight states who performed at an Independence Day cultural programme outside Vidhan Bhavan in Lucknow.
Performances included Rouf and Dongri dances from Jammu and Kashmir, Naman and Dindi from Maharashtra, Parai from Arunachal Pradesh, Darlong from Tripura, Jhinjhiya from Bihar, Gudumbaja from Madhya Pradesh, Talwar Raas from Gujarat, Rela Pata from Chhattisgarh, and Kathak from Uttar Pradesh.
Adityanath said cultural unity is India's greatest strength and that the gathering embodies the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
He directed officials to arrange visits to Ayodhya and Lucknow for artists, including a Jammu and Kashmir artist who wished to see the Shri Ram Temple.
Chhattisgarh artist Kulbhushan Chandrakar nicknamed the CM 'Bulldozer Baba'; Adityanath joked that he can at least get the bulldozer to run over wrongdoers.
All the artists and the choreographer received certificates of appreciation.
- Who
- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh and folk artists from eight Indian states who performed at the Independence Day cultural programme.
- What
- An Independence Day cultural programme in which the Chief Minister honoured folk artists and said cultural unity is India's greatest strength.
- When
- August 15, 2026, the 80th Independence Day of India (Saturday).
- Where
- Outside Vidhan Bhavan and at the Chief Minister's official residence in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- To honour artists from across the country and promote cultural unity under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative on Independence Day.
- Occasion
- 80th Independence Day of India
- Date
- August 15, 2026
- Location
- Outside Vidhan Bhavan, Lucknow (CM's official residence)
- Chief Minister
- Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh
- States Represented
- 8 states: Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh (plus Uttar Pradesh)
- Folk Performances
- Rouf, Dongri, Naman, Dindi, Parai, Darlong, Jhinjhiya, Gudumbaja, Talwar Raas, Rela Pata, Kathak
- Honour Given
- Certificates of appreciation to all artists and the choreographer
- Theme
- Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat; cultural unity is India's greatest strength