April 16, 2026 09:10 am (IST)
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India observes Gandhi Jayanti today
New Delhi, Oct 2 (IBNS) The citizens of India remembered and paid tributes in their own capacity to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 145th birth anniversary on Thursday.
The day, which is referred as 'Gandhi Jayanti', is observed amid various programmes, that are organised across the country with people from different walks of the society paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his birthday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited Rajghat and paid floral tributes to Father of the Nation.
Raj Ghat is the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.
Modi earlier tweeted: "Will go to Raj Ghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi & will pay tributes to Lal Bahadur Shastri ji at Vijay Ghat."
"Gandhi ji's thoughts & beliefs remain a great inspiration for us. Let us dedicate ourselves to building the India of Gandhi ji's dreams," he said.
Modi on Thursday also launched the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' to commemorate his birthday in New Delhi.
His government directed all the staff to attend work, cancelling the long tradition of observing a holiday on this day.
Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday wished the nation on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
In his message, the President said, “The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, is an occasion for all of us to rededicate ourselves to Bapuji’s ideals of truth, non-violence and all-round development."
"Gandhiji’s leadership inspired millions to unite in the cause of freedom and independence. He also taught us to stand resolutely against fear, to understand the importance of truth and to work for the betterment of our motherland," he said.
"Gandhiji believed that cleanliness is next only to Godliness. Let us pledge this day to convert cleanliness into a national passion. Every road, every path, every office, every home, every hut, every stream and every particle in the air around us can and must be kept clean," Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee said: "I call upon every Indian to do his utmost to make a success of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by the Government to ensure hygiene, waste management and sanitation across the country. I also call upon everyone concerned to work hard to achieve the goal of toilets in every home by 2019 - the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhiji’s birth.”
As a mark of remembrance, a giant Gandhi statue was unveiled in the city of Bangalore.
On his birthday, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur tweeted: "Once a year every1 remembers Gandhiji. Then forgets about him, his teachings. As if just by praising him we have done enough #Gandhijayanti"
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