Sardar@150 Padyatra Reaches Record 21.6 km Milestone on Day 6, Strengthening Message of National Unity and Public Participation

The day commenced with a tree plantation ceremony under the initiative “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, where 562 trees are planted daily along the designated route at Smriti Vans.

The Sardar@150 Padyatra in Gujarat’s Vadodara district marked a significant achievement on Day 6 as participants completed the longest single-day walk of 21.6 km, taking the total distance covered to 93.6 km. The padyatra began in Karamsad and continues toward the iconic Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, symbolising unity, resilience, and nation-building inspired by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The day commenced with a tree plantation ceremony under the initiative “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”, where 562 trees are planted daily along the designated route at Smriti Vans. This sustainable effort aims not only to honor maternal bonds but also to support environmental conservation and local biodiversity. The breakfast halt at Varanma village included a Pratima Samman ceremony attended by local leaders and enthusiastic villagers.

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Growing Public Participation

Citizens from villages, towns, and semi-urban areas actively joined the padyatra, reflecting strong emotional and cultural connection to Sardar Patel’s vision of a united India. Participants included students, youth groups, community organizations, and cultural delegations who performed songs, folk dances, and patriotic recitations throughout the walk.

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Senior Leaders Join the March

Top dignitaries joined the march throughout the day, including:

• Shri Harshbhai Sanghvi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat

• Shri Arjunbhai Modhvadiya, Cabinet Minister for Forest, Climate Change, Science & Technology

• Local MPs and MLAs

Their participation encouraged greater engagement from citizens and highlighted the padyatra’s significance as a national movement of unity and remembrance.

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Sadra Gatha: Tribute to Sardar Patel’s Role in National Integration

A key moment of Day 6 was the Sadra Gatha at Menpura, featuring the theme “Kashmir, Hyderabad and Sardar”—a tribute to Patel’s decisive leadership during the political integration of princely states post-independence.

Dignitaries present included:

• Shri Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir

• Shri Harshbhai Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat

• Shri Arjunbhai Modhvadia, State Cabinet Minister

Shri Manoj Sinha called the padyatra an embodiment of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, noting that India’s unity today is strengthened by modern policy reforms including One Nation, One Tax, One Nation, One Grid, and Meri Maati Mera Desh movement.

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Messages from Leaders

• Shri Harshbhai Sanghavi reminded participants that without Patel’s determination, “we might have needed a passport to enter Gujarat”, urging youth to carry forward his vision of national duty and unity.

• Shri Arjun Modhvadia reflected on Patel’s role in creating India’s administrative backbone—IAS and IPS services—and appealed to people to adopt a healthy, addiction-free lifestyle in line with the Nirogi Bharat mission.

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Route Highlights and Cultural Integration

The yatra covered multiple stops including:

Varnama Trimandir → Por Varahi Temple → Ankhi → Fajalpur → Amber Spinex → Menpura → Gayatri Temple (Kayavarohan) → Lingasthali (Dabhoi)

Local communities warmly welcomed the march, offering refreshments, cultural performances and sharing stories of Sardar Patel’s influence on rural and regional identity.

The day concluded at Lingasthali, where a vibrant Gram Sabha, cultural performances including Nritya Natika and Dayro, and community-led events energized participants. By evening, the Godavari Pravaah, a parallel movement that began from Mumbai, joined the march.

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A National Tribute in Motion

As the Sardar@150 Padyatra progresses, it has grown into a community-led movement of remembrance, unity, and public participation. The march honors Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s unmatched role in shaping modern India and inspires the public to contribute to national progress and the vision of a Viksit Bharat.