A series of functions were organised today across the country to mark the 126th foundation day of the Congress party. It was on this day, in 1885 the Indian National Congress was founded by Englishman Allan Octavio Hume, a noted ornithologist and a civil servant.In the national capital, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi unfurled party flag at a function at its head quarters. Top Congress leaders including Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, S Jaipal Reddy, Kapil Sibal, G K Vasan, Kantilal Bhuria, Vayalar Ravi, Sachin Pilot, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit and senior leaders R K Dhawan and M L Fotedar were among those present.The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Gandhi distributed sweets to children who had joined the function at the party headquarters. Mrs. Gandhi also laid the foundation stone for the new party headquarters in the capital.In an exclusive interview to All India Radio on the occasion , senior Congress leader and Information and Broadcasting minister Ambika Soni said that the party reflects the political heritage of independence. She added that congress is a mass based party with deep rooted institutional democracy. Mrs. Soni said ,today's foundation day marks the culmination of year long celebrations of the party in which top functionaries including the party chief Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.