A grateful nation pays homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 27th death anniversary today. An all religion prayer meeting was held at her Samadhi- Shakti Sthal in New Delhi this morning. President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes at Shakti Sthal besides other dignitories. Rich tributes were also paid at Indira Gandhi memorial in new Delhi . A devotional music programme was the highlight on the occassion. Several functions are being organised across the country to mark the occasion.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi will present the 26th Indira Gandhi award for national integration to environmentalist and former Union Minister Mohan Dharia.

The 136th Birth anniversary of the country's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is also being observed today. A number of functions have been organised to mark the occasion.