The Government of India has undertaken a wide-ranging effort to preserve, promote and celebrate the country’s rich cultural diversity through the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat campaign, with Zonal Cultural Centres playing a central role in organizing cultural programmes, festivals, workshops and exchanges across the country.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha that seven Zonal Cultural Centres have been established to promote folk art, tribal traditions and regional cultural heritage. These centres are headquartered in Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur, and regularly organize cultural activities across their member states to strengthen national integration and cultural awareness.
The programmes conducted under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative aim to create stronger cultural bonds among different regions of the country. Through festivals, folk performances, exhibitions, workshops and educational outreach, the initiative encourages people to experience the diverse traditions, languages and artistic expressions that form India’s cultural identity. These events also serve as a platform for artists, craftsmen and performers to showcase their heritage while fostering cultural exchange between states.
The Zonal Cultural Centres conduct programmes in collaboration with schools, colleges, universities and local cultural institutions to involve students and youth in cultural activities. Interactive sessions, competitions, workshops and performances are designed to create awareness among younger generations about the richness of India’s cultural traditions and the importance of preserving them.
Regular monitoring and evaluation mechanisms have been put in place to assess the effectiveness of the campaign. Zonal Cultural Centres submit reports on the number of programmes conducted, participation levels, audience footfall and feedback received from participants. The centres also use digital platforms and social media to publicise events and expand the reach of the campaign among wider audiences.
The scale of the initiative is reflected in the large number of cultural events organised across the country during 2024–25 and 2025–26. These include prominent festivals, folk dance events, craft exhibitions and national cultural celebrations held in multiple states. Programmes such as cultural events at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, World Folklore Day celebrations in Nagpur, Mysore Dasara festivities in Karnataka, Tribal Dance Festivals commemorating Birsa Munda Jayanti, and the Orange City Craft Mela in Nagpur drew thousands of visitors and performers.
Major cultural events such as the National Folk Dance Festival at Khajuraho, Lok Kala Darshan programmes in Maharashtra, and Octave festivals celebrating the culture of North Eastern states were organized across different regions. Large public gatherings were also seen at craft and cultural fairs including the Rashtriya Shilp Mela in Prayagraj and the Chandigarh National Crafts Mela, which witnessed significant participation from artists and visitors.
The campaign has also promoted cultural exchange between states through special Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programmes where artists from different regions perform traditional dances and songs together. Such events have featured cultural exchanges involving states including Bihar, Mizoram, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur, highlighting the diversity of Indian cultural traditions.
Several large-scale festivals organized during the campaign have drawn massive public participation. Events such as Shilpgram Utsav in Udaipur and Kalagram during the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj recorded footfalls running into hundreds of thousands, reflecting strong public engagement with traditional art and culture.
In addition to cultural festivals, the campaign includes workshops, exhibitions and educational programmes aimed at documenting and preserving traditional art forms. Artists from tribal and rural communities are invited to participate in performances and exhibitions, enabling them to showcase their skills while receiving financial support and recognition for their work.
The Government’s cultural outreach under the campaign also includes activities such as Sanskritik Yatra and Sindhu Darshan Festival across northern states and union territories, International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra, Bharat Parv celebrations in New Delhi, and regional folk festivals in states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Kerala.
According to the government, these initiatives have significantly strengthened cultural interaction between regions and created opportunities for artists, artisans and performers to share their traditions with wider audiences. By encouraging collaboration between states and involving educational institutions, the campaign seeks to deepen the sense of unity among citizens while celebrating India’s cultural diversity.
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative continues to expand its outreach through digital promotion, grassroots participation and cultural exchanges across states. Through sustained efforts by the Zonal Cultural Centres and support from cultural institutions and educational organisations, the campaign aims to preserve India’s cultural heritage while promoting national unity and cultural awareness among citizens.
