Vande Mataram turns 150: PM Modi to inaugurate anniversary celebrations

NEW DELHI: The year-long celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the national song 'Vande Mataram' will begin today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the events at 9.30 a.m. at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi. A special stamp and a commemorative coin will also be released. At 9.50 a.m., people across the country will sing Vande Mataram together in public places.

The song Vande Mataram was written by Bengali poet Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on November 7, 1875, on the day of Akshaya Navami. It was first published in the literary magazine Bangadarshan as part of his novel Anandamath. The song became a major inspiration during India’s freedom struggle. It was officially adopted as the national song on January 24, 1950.