The President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister led the nation in paying tributes to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 144th birth anniversary today. They visited Rajghat in the national capital and paid floral tributes at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. They listened to the recitation of devotional songs and Gandhiji's bhajans.
Several functions including paying of floral tributes, recitation of Gandhiji's favourite bhajans and beginning of welfare schemes across the country have been organised to mark the day.
In his message on the occasion, President Mukherjee said that Gandhi Jayanti is an occasion for countrymen to reflect on the life and contributions of the Father of the Nation. He urged all citizens to imbibe wisdom from the valued teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
In Gujarat, series of functions have been organized throughout the state. Main function was held at Kirti Mandir Porbandar- the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi.
All Religion prayer meeting was held at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
AIR correspondent reports that Navjeevan Trust of Ahmedabad has published facsimile edition of ‘Harijan’ magazine published by Mahatma Gandhi during 1933 to 1956.
Total 19 volume of Harijan will be released by Rajmohan Gandhi- grandson of Mahatma Gandhi in Ahmedabad this evening.
Khadi Institutions of Gujarat will give 25 percent rebate on retails sale of Khadi to boost the Khadi selling from today.
Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission- Devendra Desai announced that 10 percent rebate will be given on Khadi produced in other state.
Gandhi Jayanti is being celebrated all over West Bengal. The main programme was held at Barrackpore Gandhi ghat where governor M.K. Narayanan paid floral tributes at Gandhi Memorial and later took part in a prayer meeting.
Narayanan also garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Kolkata.
The day is also being celebrated at Beliaghata Gandhi Ashram in East Kolkata.
Senior State Minister Subroto Mukherjee paid floral tributes at the portrait of the father of the nation at the state secretariat. Several organisations have launched different social welfare programmes to mark the day.
Reports of Gandhi Jayanti celebration are pouring in from abroad also.
AIR West Asia correspondent reports, a series of programs have been organized to mark Gandhi Jayanti across the region at the various Indian embassies and consulates. Patriotic fervor was the order of the day as India’s Consul General in Dubai, Sanjay Verma praised the representatives of Indian community for their contribution in fostering stronger India-Dubai ties.
The new auditorium of the Indian Consulate was also inaugurated on this occasion. Indian Embassy in Cairo has organized an exhibition of award winning posters at the Maulana Azad Center.
The Indian Embassy in Afghan capital Kabul is organizing a seminar on “non-violence”, one of the main tenets of the Gandhian Philosophy.
A wide cross-section of Afghans drawn from the Government, civil society, politics, academia and the private sector, along with representatives of Embassies and international organisations are likely to participate in the day long seminar.
In Australia, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was marked with prayer ceremonies, panel discussions and book fairs.
A prayer ceremony was held in the capital, Canberra. Remembering the 'Father of Indian Nation', University of New South Wales held a ceremony in front of Gandhi's bust at the university library, followed by a discussion on 'What Gandhi means to young Indians and Australians today'.
The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is also commemorated as the International Day of Non Violence.
