Cultural events to mark ex-PM Vajpayee's birth anniversary in

The upcoming birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be celebrated in a big way in Thane near here with a number of programmes being planned to mark the occasion.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from Maharashtra and a number of Bollywood celebrities will participate in the "Atal Mahakumbh" to be hosted by Mumbai-based Kamaldeep Foundation on December 25, its convener and general secretary of Mumbai BJP unit Amarjeet Mishra announced here Thursday.

Vajpayee (93), a Bharat Ranta-laureate, died on August 16 this year in Delhi due to a prolonged illness.

Mishra said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath had Tuesday released the logo of "Atal Mahakumbh" in Lukhnow in presence of Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, a Mumbai-based organisation, and painter Rouble Nagi.

"A number of Bollywood personalities and leaders of the Maharashtra BJP will take part in the December 25 event, which will be marked by cultural programmes and recitation of (late) Vajpayee's poems," said Mishra.

He claimed that Kamaldeep Foundation has been organising the functions to celebrate the birthday of Vajpayee since the last ten years.

"Thousands of followers of Vajpayee hailing from different states will also attend the 'Mahakumbh'," he said.