UP Diwas celebrations conclude on a vibrant note

Folk artists celebrate the spirit of the soil through dance and music

Ocean Band’s rock fusion and Prathiba Singh Baghel’s Bhajan Sandhya captivated the audience

Kala Gaon, ODOC, and ODOP products were the main attractions

Lucknow, January 2026 : In the state capital, Lucknow, artists mesmerized audiences by showcasing Uttar Pradesh’s rich art, culture, folk traditions, and developmental journey in diverse forms during the three-day grand cultural festival organized on the occasion of UP Diwas–2026. Held from January 24 to 26 at Rashtriya Prerna Sthal, the main programs witnessed the participation of lakhs of people, transforming the celebration into a vibrant public festival. Alongside captivating folk performances, the rock fusion by Ocean Band and soulful renditions by Vineet Singh and Pratibha Singh Baghel infused the event with a truly magical atmosphere.

In the main ceremony, where exhibitions of various departments depicted the state’s development journey, the programs organized by the Culture Department brought the state’s rich cultural heritage to the stage.

Saurabh‑Gaurav Mishra of Varanasi presented the classical rhythm of Kathak dance while Pooran Maharaj’s tabla playing reverberated on the stage. The soulful singing of Shweta Dubey of Banaras and Sheetal Mohan Mishra of Azamgarh mesmerized the listeners while Vishal Gupta of Lucknow spread the aura of classical dance. Chandrabhushan of Unnao garnered applause by staging a play while the famous Indian Ocean Band’s rock and fusion music forced especially young listeners to dance.

On the second day of UP Diwas, 25 January, the main attraction was the presentation of light music by Vineet Singh of Mumbai, which garnered loud applause from the listeners. Apart from this, in the cultural programs that ran throughout the day, Veerendra Singhal of Jhansi spread the fragrance of soil on the stage with Bundeli and Ranjana Agrawal of Lucknow with folk singing. Ganesh Pathak of Varanasi rained devotion with bhajan singing, Vandana Kushwaha of Jhansi performed Rai folk dance, and the Kathak duo of Rahul‑Rohit Mishra of Varanasi spread the magic of rhythm and beat. Harish Tiwari of Delhi won the hearts of people with classical singing, and Ilmas Khan of Lucknow with tabla playing.

On the concluding day of UP Diwas celebration, 26 January, the bhajans and light music of famous singer Prathiba Singh Baghel garnered widespread praise from listeners. Sudha Pal of Mathura presented folk dance, and Devika S. Manglamukhi of Delhi presented Kathak dance to familiarize the general public with India’s rich cultural tradition.

The folk singing of Ajay Pandey of Lucknow and the Birha singing of Chedilal of Kaushambi expressed various emotions of folk life. With the singing of Shiv and Shivang of Raebareli, along with dance and singing presentations of various gharanas, no stone was left unturned in ensuring a grand conclusion of the festival.

The main attraction of UP Diwas celebration were the products of Chief Minister’s ambitious schemes ODOC (One District‑One Cuisine) and ODOP (One District‑One Product). The dishes of ODOC charmed people’s minds with UP’s local flavors, while the products of ODOP familiarized the public with the state’s traditional craftsmanship and crafts.

The Kala Gaon set up by the Department of Culture offered a vivid glimpse into the rural life of Uttar Pradesh. Artists portraying characters from the Ramayana, captivating puppet shows, tightrope performances, and tea served on traditional cots together created an authentic regional experience for visitors. The dance and music performances not only delighted the audience but also showcased the state’s rich cultural diversity, artistic talent, and heritage. The event further gave people across the state a valuable opportunity to celebrate and take pride in their cultural legacy.