The Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria attended the celebration of West Bengal Foundation Day at Punjab Lok Bhavan under the ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative, which promotes cultural exchange and national integration.
The event featured a series of cultural performances showcasing the rich heritage of West Bengal. A video message from the Governor of West Bengal was screened, highlighting the State’s cultural legacy and developmental achievements.
The cultural programme included Rabindra Sangeet, Baul folk music, children's performances, patriotic songs and skits, Bistirno Dupare based on the River Ganga, Dhitang Dhitang Bole, Durga Stuti and a presentation depicting the traditional Sindoor Khela associated with Durga Puja.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Kataria extended greetings to the people of West Bengal and highlighted the State’s rich historical, cultural, literary, scientific and spiritual contributions. He noted that West Bengal Foundation Day is observed on June 20 to commemorate the historic resolution passed by the Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1947, leading to the formation of West Bengal within the Indian Union.
The Governor observed that Punjab and West Bengal share a common legacy of patriotism, sacrifice and resilience. Both States made significant contributions to India’s freedom struggle and experienced the impact of Partition during Independence. He paid tribute to national icons including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Khudiram Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Swami Vivekananda, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jagadish Chandra Bose and former President Pranab Mukherjee.
Emphasizing India’s unity in diversity, Shri Kataria urged citizens to uphold the ideals of ‘Nation First’ and contribute towards a united, inclusive and progressive India.Also present on the occasion were Additional Solicitor General of India Shri Satya Pal Jain; Additional Chief Secretary to the Governor of Punjab Shri Vivek Pratap Singh; Shri Lalit Jain, IAS; Member of the Administrator’s Advisory Council Shri Sanjay Tandon; and other distinguished guests.