Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday participated in the Tiranga Yatra in Srinagar, leading a celebration of national pride and reaffirming the spirit of national unity and the courage of the people.
The event brought together the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign and the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram.
Addressing citizens after the Tiranga Yatra, the Lieutenant Governor said the Tiranga is the living embodiment of India’s consciousness and pride, and that the Tiranga Yatra in Kashmir sends a clear message that India must never stop and always move forward.
“In 2022, when the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign was launched under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, its purpose was to rekindle in every Indian’s heart a sense of closeness, respect, and emotional connection toward the tricolour. When the Tiranga flutters simultaneously on millions of homes, 140 crore Indians’ hearts beat as one in a single sentiment, a single faith, a single resolve. Today, Tiranga Yatra has evolved into a festival of people’s consciousness, a tradition of patriotism, and a cultural value binding every citizen to the motherland,” he said.
Sinha congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga and Vande Mataram campaigns, saying their enthusiasm had become a source of inspiration for the entire nation.
He said the Tiranga is the soul of the nation and Vande Mataram is the immortal voice of that soul.
The Lieutenant Governor called upon citizens to reflect on their individual contribution towards building the India envisioned by the nation’s forefathers.
He said that while martyrs defended the nation with their blood, the present generation must defend it through character, honesty, hard work, unity and service.
“The confluence of Har Ghar Tiranga and Vande Mataram is not merely the meeting of two campaigns but the announcement of a new era,” he said.
“This is the symbol of a Jammu Kashmir filled with self-confidence and marching firmly toward the future where ‘Vijayi Vishwa Tiranga Pyara’ is a life’s resolve in every citizen’s heart, where every home is a centre of patriotism and where every heart beats in rhythm with the pulse of national unity,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
On the occasion, Sinha called upon the people to take collective and personal responsibility for shaping the future of Jammu and Kashmir and India.
He urged citizens to ensure that the Tiranga flies not only at every home but also in their thoughts, character and actions.
“Let us resolve that the sacred spirit of ‘Vande Mataram’ will reflect in every action, every decision, and the discharge of every responsibility. We should take a pledge to repay the debt of our immortal heroes’ sacrifices by building a nation that is prosperous, secure, just, and opens doors of equal opportunity for every citizen,” he said.
“We should work together to realize the vision of a Jammu Kashmir where the three colours of the Tiranga are visible in the values of life. We should build a Jammu Kashmir that is economically strong and takes unbroken pride in Indian culture, civilization, and spiritual values. The future is ours. This century belongs to India. This is the era of India’s self-confidence, its courage, and its immortal national consciousness,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
During the programme, the Lieutenant Governor honoured Veer Naris and war heroes, inaugurated the Har Ghar Tiranga Exhibition and felicitated the nodal officers associated with the Vande Mataram campaign.
The celebrations also featured the screening of a special documentary by the Department of Culture, followed by a Tiranga concert, where artists paid a musical tribute to the nation’s bravehearts.
Justice Rahul Bharti, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Javid Ahmad Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DGP Nalin Prabhat, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, and Principal Secretary Culture Brij Mohan Sharma were among those present.
People from different walks of life, senior officers of the civil administration, police and security forces, and a large number of youth also participated in the Tiranga Yatra.
The event marked the coming together of the Har Ghar Tiranga and Vande Mataram campaigns in Srinagar, with the Lieutenant Governor urging citizens to carry the values associated with the national flag and the national song into their everyday actions and responsibilities.
