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, the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi in the national capital, Delhi and paid floral tributes and listened to the recitation of devotional songs and Gandhiji's bhajans. Orgnising several functions, paying floral tributes and recitation of his favourite bhajans and beginning of welfare programmes across the country to remember the Mahatma will 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 said, this is a day to re-dedicate ourselves to ideals of the Mahatma who gave the instrument of Satyagraha based on truth, non-violence and power of self-suffering and helped India shed colonialism.

The President urged all citizens to imbibe wisdom from the valued teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.