150 Years of Vande Mataram: India Celebrates with a Year-Long Tribute

Citizens across India will join in a “mass singing of the full version of Vande Mataram”—from schools and government offices to public squares—in unison with the main event in Delhi. File Photo

The event marks “150 years” of this timeless song that inspires courage, unity and devotion.

150 Years of Vande Mataram: India Celebrates with a Year-Long Tribute

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the year-long commemoration of India’s national song, “Vande Mataram”, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. The event marks “150 years” of this timeless song that inspires courage, unity and devotion.

“Vande Mataram” was composed by “Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875”. It was first published in his literary magazine “Bangadarshan” and later featured in his iconic novel “Anandamath” in 1882.

This song’s first public rendition by “Rabindranath Tagore” in 1896 at Calcutta made it a symbol of India’s awakening spirit. It was written on the auspicious day of “Akshaya Navami” and invoked the motherland as the embodiment of strength and prosperity.

Prime Minister Modi will also release a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the occasion during the inaugural ceremony. Citizens across India will join in a “mass singing of the full version of Vande Mataram”—from schools and government offices to public squares—in unison with the main event in Delhi.

The Ministry of Culture has given directions to all ministries and departments to livestream the Prime Minister’s address and participate through their local programmes. Recorded renditions of “Vande Mataram” and discussions on its legacy will be featured nationwide and on the “Amrit Kal Portal”.

The celebration was approved by the **Union Cabinet on October 1, 2025. It will unfold in four phases throughout the year—aligning with Republic Day, Independence Day, and Constitution Week—culminating on November 7, 2026. Events for this celebration will be hosted at “150 sites of national significance”, including the Kargil War Memorial, Cellular Jail, Namo Ghat, and Swaraj Ashram.

“Vande Mataram” was adopted as India’s “national song in 1950”. It remains a timeless anthem of love and sacrifice. As the nation revisits its enduring power, the 150-year commemoration is focused on reminding citizens that patriotism is a living, unbroken and ever-growing bond with the motherland.