New Delhi — Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the year-long nationwide commemoration of India’s National Song “Vande Mataram” on Friday at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, officials said.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister will also release a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the beginning of a year-long celebration that will continue until November 7, 2026. The event honors 150 years of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s immortal composition, a song that inspired India’s freedom struggle and continues to embody the spirit of national pride and unity.
As part of the celebrations, citizens across the country will join in the mass singing of the complete version of “Vande Mataram” at around 9:50 a.m. in public places, synchronized with the main event in Delhi, according to an official statement.
Written on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Navami on November 7, 1875, “Vande Mataram” was first published in the literary journal Bangadarshan as part of Chatterjee’s novel Anandamath. The song, which venerates the motherland as a symbol of strength, prosperity, and divinity, gave poetic voice to India’s awakening spirit of unity and self-respect, eventually becoming an enduring anthem of devotion to the nation.
The Delhi Legislative Assembly will also host a special programme on Friday to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the National Song. Speaker Vijender Gupta will unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the milestone.
The event will include a cultural performance by artists from the Sahitya Kala Parishad, celebrating the patriotic fervor and unity inspired by “Vande Mataram.” In the evening, the Delhi Assembly building will be illuminated in the colors of the Indian tricolor.
“Vande Mataram is not merely a song — it is the soul of India’s freedom movement and an eternal tribute to our motherland,” Speaker Gupta said. “By celebrating 150 years of this national treasure, we renew our pledge to uphold the ideals of unity, sacrifice, and patriotism that continue to guide our nation forward.”
With inputs from IANS