Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was today fondly remembered on his 141st birth anniversary with leaders cutting across political lines paying homage to him.President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, senior BJP leaders L K Advani and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj were among the prominent dignitaries who offered floral tributes at Rajghat—the memorial of the Mahatma in Delhi. Several Union Ministers, including Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, also visited the memorial to offer their tributes. Sarva Dharma prayer meeting was also held on the occasion. The day is also celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence as Gandhiji was the apostle of peace and truth.In Gujarat’Gandhi’s home state’all religion prayer meetings were held at Kirti Mandir and Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad this morning. Lectures, blood donation camps and programmes on Gandhian activities were organised at Sabarmati Ashram in the presence of the state Governor. AIR Ahmedabad correspondent reports that Kisan Swaraj Yatra would be flagged off this evening from Sabarmati Ashram to spread the message of sustainable agriculture in the country.In Puducherry, rich floral tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary. Union Minister V. Narayanasamy, Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh, Assembly Speaker Radhakrishnan, State Ministers, MLAs and PCC President A.V. Subramanian garlanded the Gandhi statue at the Beach Road. An all religious prayer was held on the occasion and devotional songs were sung. Today is also the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. In Delhi, a large number of people are paying their tributes to the recipient of the first Bharat Ratna Award at his Samadhi – Vijay Ghat. Shastri ji revolutionised the country's agriculture sector and gave the slogan – 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kissan'.