Lok Sabha Question No. 969 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat Campaign
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 969 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## EK BHARAT SHRESHTH BHARAT CAMPAIGN

†969. SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

Will the Minister of CULTUREbe pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  initiatives  to  promote  cultural  integration among  various  States  under  'Ek  Bharat  Shreshth  Bharat'  campaign  in  the country,
- (b)  if so, the State-wise details along with Maharashtra State thereof;
- (c)  the steps being taken by the Government in this regard along with the details of future plans for Maharashtra;
- (d)  the areas on which special attention will be paid by the Government under this campaign; and
- (e)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) & (b) Yes sir. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) programme of Government of India aims to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different States/UTs through the concept of State/UT pairing and experiential  learning.  16  participating  Ministries/  Departments  undertake  activities throughout the year to promote sustained and structured cultural connect between paired  States/UTs  in  the  areas  of  language  learning,  culture,  traditions  &  music, tourism & cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices etc. Further, special initiatives and campaigns are organized under the banner of EBSB to sensitize and immerse the youth in diverse aspects of Indian culture and heritage. These include:

- i. Yuva  Sangam :  It  is  an  ongoing  educational-cum-cultural  exchange  with celebration  of  diversity  at  its  core  wherein  participants  gain  an  immersive experience of the language, literature, cuisine, festivals, traditions, art forms, architectural, engineering and historical marvels of the host State.
- ii. Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS) :  Two editions of KTS have been organized under the aegis of EBSB, to celebrate and reinforce the historic connections between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, two renowned centres of learning in ancient India. The two editions witnessed around 3,900 Tamil delegates travelling on 8-day  tour  to  Varanasi,  Prayagraj  and  Ayodhya  for  cultural  immersion. Activities under KTS included seminars, demonstrations, cultural exchanges and  exhibitions  showcasing  handlooms,  handicrafts,  cuisine  and  historical landmarks of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
- iii. Ek Bharat Sanskriti Sangam (EBSS) : An online social media campaign was carried out from July-Oct, 2023 to encourage youth (18-30 years) to learn and embrace cultures, traditions and art forms of different States/UTs. They were required to perform an art form in the language of any State other than their home  State under four categories viz. dancing, singing, painting  and photography. A  total  of  5,284  participants  and  coordinators  have  participated  in  different phases of Yuva Sangam including the pilot phase across the country. There are a total  of  245  participants  who  have  participated  from  the  State  of  Maharashtra  in different phases of Yuva Sangam. Major  activities  organized  by  all  the  Zonal  Cultural  Centres  (ZCCs)  under Ministry  of  Culture  in  different  States  alongwith  Maharashtra  under  'Ek  Bharat Shreshth Bharat' campaign are Annexed . (c) Ministry of Culture organizes various cultural programmes/ activities through its Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) under EBSB taking into consideration the pairing States.  The  activities  which  have  been  planned  in  Maharashtra  are  Lok  Kala Darshan,  Lok  Nrutya  Bharat  Bharti,  Tribal  Dance  Festival,  Folk  Theatre  Festival, Traditional/  Tribal  Painting  Workshop,  Stree  Festival,  Dr.  Vasantrao  Deshpande Smruti Sangeet Mahotsav, Orange City Craft Mela and Folk Dance Festival-2025, Stone Carving Workshop-2024, Abhivyakti Sanskritik Katta, Guru Shishya Parampara, Research & Documentation etc. Under EBSB, activities are planned and implemented throughout India, including  Maharashtra,  by  participating  Ministries/  Departments  and  institutions

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(d) & (e) under their administrative purview.

## ANNEXURE

## Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.  969 for 29.07.2024

## Major activities organized by all the ZCCs in different States alongwith Maharashtra under 'Ek Bharat Shreshth Bharat' campaign

|   Sl. No. | Name of the major activity                     | State where activity was organized   |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|         1 | Baba Sheikh Farid Aagman Purb                  | Punjab                               |
|         2 | International Geeta Mahotsav                   | Haryana                              |
|         3 | Mijar Mela                                     | Himachal Pradesh                     |
|         4 | Meera Mahotsav                                 | Rajasthan                            |
|         5 | National Lok Rang Festival                     | Rajasthan                            |
|         6 | Sindhu Darshan Festival                        | UT of Ladakh                         |
|         7 | Chandigarh National Craft Mela                 | UT of Chandigarh                     |
|         8 | Aadi Shaurya-Parv Prakaram Ka                  | Delhi                                |
|         9 | Bharat Parv                                    | Delhi                                |
|        10 | Zonal Level Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav       | Rajasthan                            |
|        11 | Camel Festival                                 | Rajasthan                            |
|        12 | Vitasta-Festival of Kashmir                    | UT of J&K                            |
|        13 | Vatsal Bharat                                  | Maharashtra                          |
|        14 | Zonal Level Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav       | Maharashtra                          |
|        15 | Amrit Kalash Yatra (Meri Maati Mera Desh)      | Maharashtra                          |
|        16 | Warli Art Camp & Tribal Workshop               | Maharashtra                          |
|        17 | Kashi Tamil Sangamam                           | Uttar Pradesh                        |
|        18 | Vasantosav                                     | Gujarat                              |
|        19 | Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam                      | Gujarat                              |
|        20 | Daang Darbar                                   | Gujarat                              |
|        21 | Shilpgram Utsav                                | Rajasthan                            |
|        22 | Rangshala                                      | Rajasthan                            |
|        23 | Ritu Basant                                    | Rajasthan                            |
|        24 | Malhar                                         | Rajasthan                            |
|        25 | Lok Rang Mahotsav                              | Rajasthan                            |
|        26 | Baneswar Mela                                  | Rajasthan                            |
|        27 | Phad Wall Workshop                             | Rajasthan                            |
|        28 | Ganesh Utsav                                   | Goa                                  |
|        29 | Lokotsav                                       | Goa                                  |
|        30 | Chanderi Mahotsav                              | Goa                                  |
|        31 | Malwa Utsav                                    | Madhya Pradesh                       |
|        32 | Panthi Nritya PrashikshanKaryashala            | Chhattisgarh                         |
|        33 | Rangmadhya Dakshini                            | Chhattisgarh                         |
|        34 | Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Smruti Sangeet Samaroh | Maharashtra                          |
|        35 | Lok Nritya Bharat Bharati                      | Maharashtra                          |
|        36 | Lok Kala Yatra                                 | Karnataka                            |
|        37 | Bahuroopi National Theatre Festival            | Karnataka                            |
|        38 | Orange City Craft Mela                         | Maharashtra                          |
|        39 | Khajuraho Dance Festival                       | Madhya Pradesh                       |
|        40 | Uttar Pradesh Utsav                            | Arunachal Pradesh                    |

|   Sl. No. | Name of the major activity               | State where activity was organized   |
|-----------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
|        41 | Yuva Mahotsav                            | Sikkim                               |
|        42 | Virasat                                  | Uttarakhand                          |
|        43 | Chalo Man Ganga-Yamuna Teer              | Uttar Pradesh                        |
|        44 | Aadi Mahotsav                            | Delhi                                |
|        45 | Chandra Shekhar Azad Jayanti Samaroh     | Uttar Pradesh                        |
|        46 | Bithoor Mahotsav                         | Uttar Pradesh                        |
|        47 | Janjatiy Utsav                           | Madhya Pradesh                       |
|        48 | Zonal Level Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav | Delhi                                |
|        49 | ParvateeyNatyaSamaroh                    | Uttarakhand                          |
|        50 | Markandey Mahadev Mahotsav               | Uttar Pradesh                        |
|        51 | Narmada Utsav                            | Madhya Pradesh                       |
|        52 | Gatha Gayan                              | Bihar                                |

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