<span style="color: #222222;">Nation pays homage to the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 72nd death anniversary today. It was on this day in 1948, Mahatma Gandhi fell to the bullet of his assassin. The day is also observed as Martyrs Day.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid floral tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on his death anniversary. <br />'' <br />'' Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, BJP veteran L K Advani, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General Manoj Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria were among those who offered tributes on Martyrs Day. Congress President Sonia Gandhi also offered floral tributes. An inter-religious prayer meeting was organized on this occasion.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' In his message on Martyrs Day, President Kovind said, in his final sacrifice, Gandhiji left a constant reminder for people,   unconditional love, especially for the other. Mr Kovind said, he is confident that more and more of people will discover Gandhiji's true message.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Vice President said, Mahatma Gandhi's life and message of peace and non-violence are relevant for all times and find resonance in every part of the world. He said, through the philosophy of Ahimsa, Satyagraha and Non-Cooperation, Gandhiji galvanized masses and spearheaded the national movement. Mr Naidu said, building a New India that will be free from hunger, poverty, all types of discrimination, corruption and inculcates the spirit of service among the younger generation are few ways to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Prime Minister Modi said, the personality and ideals of Mahatma Gandhi will continue to inspire people to build a strong, capable and prosperous New India.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Gujarat is paying rich tribute to its son of soil and Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 72nd Death Anniversary today. All Religion prayers have been organized at Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad and at Kirti Mandir- Porbandar, the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi this morning.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' AIR, Ahmedabad correspondent reports that series of functions including lectures, blood donation camps have also been organized to pay homage to the Father of the Nation.<br />'' All Religion prayers have been organized at Kirti Mandir, Porbandar- the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi and Sabarmati Ashram- the work place of Mahatma Gandhi. Bapu's favorite songs- Vaishnav Jan to Tene Kahiye – and Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram- recited on this occasion. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Lectures on Gandhian values and blood donations camps have also been organized at various places. "Bapu School Me"- campaign launched by the Indian Institute of Teacher Education – Gandhinagar ends today with the spreading of Gandhian thoughts in one and a half lakh students in more than one thousand schools.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' <br />'' In Tamil Nadu, floral tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi at various places on the anniversary of his martyrdom. In Chennai, Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy, senior ministers and several others showered flower petals on the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi that was placed under his statue at Kamraj Road near Marina Beach this morning. Representatives of several Gandhian associations and the public also paid homage to the Father of the Nation.<br />'' <br />'' West Bengal observed the Death Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in a befitting manner today. The main programme was held at Barrackpur Gandhi Ghat this morning where State Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar paid homage at the base of Gandhi Memorial column to mark the day. Later, the Governor also paid floral tributes at the statue of the Father of the Nation in Kolkata. State Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee paid homage at the portrait of Gandhi at the Secretariat Nabanna.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim will pay floral tributes in the memory of martyrs at Presidency and Alipur Central Correctional Home in the afternoon. Several other organizations are also observing the day through various programmes .</span><br />'' <br />'' In Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Dr. Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, Speaker Sivakoluntu, legislators and senior officials garlanded the Gandhi statue on the beach road here to mark the occasion. Patriotic songs were sung at the  Gandhi Statue and two minutes' silence was observed. <br />''