Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today reviewed the preparations for Phase-II of the Commemoration of 150 Years of ‘Vande Mataram’, the National Song of India, scheduled to be observed across the J&K from January 19 to January 26, 2026, coinciding with the Republic Day celebrations together with the national celebrations held on this occasion.
The review meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Culture Department; Commissioner Secretary, Tourism; Secretary, School Education; Director, School Education, and other senior officers of the concerned departments. Deputy Commissioners from all districts participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
During the review, the Chief Secretary highly appreciated the exemplary performance of all districts during Phase-I, which enabled Jammu & Kashmir to emerge as the top-performing region in the country, surpassing even the largest States in terms of scale, participation and overall impact of the celebrations.
He lauded the coordinated efforts of district administrations, along with the School and Higher Education Departments, for successfully organizing large-scale patriotic and cultural programmes that effectively showcased the historical, cultural and emotional significance of VandeMataram as a powerful symbol of India’s freedom struggle and national unity.
Encouraging the Deputy Commissioners to sustain the momentum, the Chief Secretary urged them to ensure equally stellar performance during Phase-II, beginning January 19. He emphasized that the second phase should further deepen public engagement, particularly among youth, students and community groups, and strengthen the spirit of national pride, unity and patriotism across the Union Territory.
While reviewing the Action Plan for Phase-II, the Chief Secretary underscored the importance of effective publicity, documentation and outreach. He directed that a robust and structured publicity campaign be undertaken through the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR). Special emphasis was laid on uploading maximum photographs and videos on the dedicated Government of India portal www.vandemataram150.in, along with enhanced outreach through official social media platforms using a common hashtag to maximize visibility at the national level.
Earlier, Principal Secretary, Culture Department, Brij Mohan Sharma, briefed the meeting about the successful conduct of Phase-I celebrations (November 7–14, 2025), in which a mammoth participation of around 1.22 Cr participants was witnessed followed by UP with a participation of 19.35 lakhs and then other states.
Moreover he added that the celebrations here also included grand inaugural and valedictory events at Abhinav Theatre and M.A. Stadium, Jammu, respectively. These events witnessed participation of over 20,000 students, artists and citizens, featuring mass singing of VandeMataram, vibrant patriotic cultural performances and extensive youth participation.
He further informed that the key activities planned during Phase-II include Vande Mataram Torch Relays across all districts to symbolize unity and national pride; mass singing of Vande Mataram at educational institutions, government offices, Panchayat Ghars and community centres; and integration of the Vande Mataram theme in all Republic Day programmes at the UT, district, tehsil and institutional levels.
Additionally, a range of special programmes such as essay writing, poster-making and debate competitions, Vande Mataram exhibitions, and youth marathons will be organized to ensure maximum public participation and awareness, especially among young citizens.
Reiterating his directions to all district administrations and concerned stakeholders, the Chief Secretary stressed that the commemoration of 150 years of Vande Mataram should be observed not merely as a series of events but as a people’s movement to reconnect citizens with the ideals of freedom, unity and national pride. He called upon all departments to work with dedication and commitment to make Phase-II celebrations impactful, inclusive and memorable.