Fri Nov 07 04:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
National Celebration Kicks Off to Mark 150 Years of ‘Vande Mataram’
New Delhi: The Indian government has launched a year-long celebration to commemorate the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram,’ the iconic song that fueled the spirit of millions during India’s independence movement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the festivities today at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi, marking the start of a nationwide tribute to the patriotic anthem. The celebrations began with widespread public singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ across the country, with participation from people of all backgrounds.
‘Vande Mataram’ was penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on November 7, 1875, and later featured in his novel ‘Anand Math.’
During the event, Prime Minister Modi released a commemorative stamp and coin honoring the song’s legacy. He also joined the mass singing of ‘Vande Mataram.’
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed the gathering, highlighting the inspiration behind the song. He recounted an incident where Chatterjee, then a collector, was stopped by the British while traveling in Berhampore because they were playing cricket. This incident reportedly sparked Chatterjee to write the powerful lyrics of ‘Vande Mataram’.
First Piper 