In the three-day cultural festival organized on the occasion of UP Day-2026 in Lucknow, folk art, classical dance-music, rock fusion and ODOP-ODOC exhibition attracted lakhs of spectators and turned the event into a mass festival.
Lucknow. A three-day grand cultural festival organized on the occasion of ‘UP Day-2026’ in the capital Lucknow effectively presented the rich art, culture, folk traditions and development journey of the state. The presence of lakhs of people of the state in this main event held at Rashtra Prerna Sthal from 24 to 26 January gave it the shape of a huge public festival.
From folk art to rock fusion, an outpouring of cultural colours.
At the festival, folk artists as well as rock fusion performances by Ocean Band and performances by Vineet Singh and Pratibha Singh Baghel enthralled the audience. Exhibitions of various departments depicted the development journey of the state, while programs of the Culture Department brought alive the cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh on the stage.
Classical dance, music and drama captivated the mind.
Saurav-Gaurav Mishra of Varanasi gave a classical presentation of Kathak dance, while Puran Maharaj’s tabla playing made the stage resonate. The melodious singing of Shweta Dubey from Banaras and Sheetala Mohan Mishra from Azamgarh kept the audience engaged. The classical dance performance of Vishal Gupta of Lucknow and the drama staging of Chandra Bhushan of Unnao were highly appreciated. The rock and fusion music of Indian Ocean Band especially made the youth dance.
25th January: Easy music and special shade of folk colours.
On the second day of UP Day, January 25, the main attraction was the smooth musical presentation of Mumbai’s Vineet Singh. Virendra Sinhal of Jhansi sang Bundeli and Ranjana Agrahari of Lucknow spread the fragrance of soil on the stage with folk songs. The bhajan singing of Ganesh Pathak of Varanasi added devotion, while the Rai folk dance of Vandana Kushwaha of Jhansi and the Kathak duo of Rahul-Rohit Mishra presented a wonderful confluence of rhythm and rhythm. The classical singing of Harish Tiwari from Delhi and the tabla playing of Ilmas Khan from Lucknow won the hearts of the audience.
26 January: Bhajans, folk dances and grand finale
On the concluding day, 26th January, the bhajan and smooth music of famous singer Pratibha Singh Baghel was greatly appreciated. Folk dances of Sudha Pal of Mathura and Devika S of Delhi. Mangalamukhi’s Kathak dance enlivened the Indian cultural tradition. Folk singing of Ajay Pandey of Lucknow, Birha of Chhedilal of Kaushambi and singing of Shiva and Shivang of Rae Bareli gave emotional height to the festival. The function concluded grandly with dance and singing performances of various gharanas.
ODOC and ODOP become center of attraction
Chief Minister’s ambitious schemes ODOC (One District-One Cuisine) and ODOP (One District-One Product) were the center of special attraction among the people in the UP Day celebrations. ODOC dishes introduced the local flavor of the region, while ODOP products showcased traditional workmanship and crafts.
Rural Uttar Pradesh seen in ‘Art Village’
The ‘Art Village’ established by the Culture Department seemed to present a vibrant picture of rural Uttar Pradesh. Artists dressed as Ramayana characters, puppet dance, rope stunts and arrangement of tea on cots made people experience the regional culture. These presentations not only entertained but also gave the people of the state an opportunity to be proud of their cultural diversity and heritage.