A grateful nation pays homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi today on her 26th martyrdom day. In the national capital, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit and a host of dignitaries paid floral tribute to the former prime minister. An all religion prayer meeting was held at 1, Safdarjung Road. A series of functions are being organized throughout the country to mark the occasion. Indira Gandhi award for national integration will be conferred jointly to Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Narainpur and famous music director A R Rehman for the year 2009 at a function in New Delhi for their services in promoting and preserving national integration. Glowing tributes are also being paid to the iron man of India Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel on his 135th birth anniversary. Various programmes are being organized across the country to mark the day.