Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi
The nation today remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 149th birth anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat today. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi also paid their tributes to Gandhiji. Every year, the nation pays homage to Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was fondly called Bapu, on his birth anniversary on October 2, which is also known as Gandhi Jayanti. Born in 1869 in Gujarat's Porbandar, Mahatma Gandhi had his early political training in South Africa while working among the local Indian community facing discrimination.
Here are the highlights on Gandhi Jayanti celebrations from across the country:
Gandhi was for self-sufficiency at village-level: Tamil Nadu GovernorTamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit said Mahatma Gandhi had brought about social cohesion by working against 'untouchability'.
"He (Gandhi) propagated the concept of trusteeship and wanted people to abhor accumulation of wealth for themselves and their families. All these were his outpourings which went beyond the political spectrum," the governor said.
When the Sabarmati ashram in Ahmedabad was started by Gandhi, there were initially 25 inmates of whom 13 were Tamilians, he said.
PM Modi interacts with students at Gandhi Smriti
Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary celebrated in Sydney with symbolic Dandi marchA symbolic Dandi march, led by children, was organised on Tuesday at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) campus in Australia to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary.
India's Consul General B. Vanlavawna, who joined the symbolic march, said Gandhi's ideas and values were still relevant and remembering him was a celebration of those ideas.
UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Laurie Pearcey said the varsity library tower would be illuminated with Indian tricolour for the next two weeks.
"Gandhi was an advocate of change and resistance, but also of harmony, tolerance and cooperation, which is why commemorating his birth is just as relevant in Australia as it is in India and many nations," he said.
Government working to realise Bapu's vision on sanitation: Nirmala SitharamanDefence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said the Narendra Modi government believed in Mahatma Gandhis vision on sanitation and was working to realise it.
"Gandhi ji said that sanitation is more important than independence. The government believes in this vision of Bapu," she said.
Ms Sitharaman said even after 72 years of Independence and despite many awareness programmes about sanitation and personal cleanliness launched by earlier governments, not much progress could be achieved.
"Therefore, in order to fulfill dream of Mahatma Gandhi to make India clean, Swachh Bharat Mission was introduced," she said.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi during his 'padyatra' titled 'Gandhi Sandesh Yatraa, Mahatma Ki Rah Par', in Wardha.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi hoists the flag as former Congress president Sonia Gandhi looks on, during the Congress Working Committee meeting on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, at Sevagram, Wardha.
Israeli diplomat Noa Hakim, also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his 149th birth anniversary at Rajghat today. She said the occasion made her feel extra special as October 2 also happens to be her birthday.
"It is my second visit to Rajghat. I had come here accompanying our Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he came here during his India visit early this year. But, I feel honoured and humbled that I share my birthday with such a revered man," Ms Hakim told PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi awards a student at the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC), at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharti also present at the event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres visits Mini Digital Exhibition at the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC), at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
A resolution was passed at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2007 marking Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on October 2 as the 'International Day of Non-Violence'. Countries across the globe celebrate this day by spreading Gandhi's message of 'Ahimsa' through public awareness campaigns and education.
Indian Ambassador Venu Rajamony presented the special stamps to Netherland's former Foreign Minister Bernard R. Bot and Director General Erik de Baedts in front of the iconic Peace Palace of The Hague, home to the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
A child pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 149th birth anniversary, at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad (PTI)
Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Bhopal
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti in Jaipur
Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu and Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on the occasion of their birth anniversary at Bapu Vatika in Ranchi
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti at Guwahati's Gandhi Mandap
An artist dressed as Mahatma Gandhi meets Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during a Gandhi Jayanti function at Gandhi Maidan in Patna
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate Gandhi Jayanti, at the Central Hall of Parliament
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit with Chief Minister K Palaniswami and deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam pay floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti at Chennai's Marina beach
Children dressed as Mahatma Gandhi participate in a Gandhi Jayanti function in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad
So many countries coming together for a cleanliness campaign is an unheard of event. I pay tribute to Bapu on everyone's behalf, says PM Modi at the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention
PM Modi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited an exhibition during the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention at Rashtrapati
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Pays Tribute To Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi connected India in letter and spirit, in thought and action, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a blog to mark the birth anniversary of the father of the nation on Tuesday. "India is a land of diversity. If there was one person who brought everyone together, made people rise above differences, to fight colonialism and enhanced India's stature at the world stage, it was Mahatma Gandhi," PM Modi said in the blog published by the Times of India.
On October 1, school students celebrated Gandhi Jayanti in various forms. While in one Chennai school, students dressed as Mahatma Gandhi and performed yoga, students from a school in Amritsar took part in a march to celebrate the occasion
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid a floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi on Gandhi Jayanti
"Today is International Day of Non-Violence, in remembrance of Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy of non-violence or ahimsa. We must focus on spreading the Gandhian philosophy across the country," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said
"I am paying a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who embodied dedication, dedication, unselfishness, truthfulness and absolutism. The truth is that he practiced and the theories of nonviolence which are the foundations of the Indian democracy," Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said
"Pay my tributes to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi ji on his 150th birth anniversary. Bapuji's simplicity, love for the downtrodden and immense contribution to India's freedom struggle in adherence to Ahimsa and Satyagraha continues to inspire people all over the world," union minister Suresh Prabhu wrote on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti
US plans to honour Mahatma Gandhi with the country's highest civilian honourHalf a dozen influential US lawmakers, including four Indian-Americans, have moved a resolution in the US House of Representatives to posthumously award the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal to Mahatma Gandhi in recognition of his promotion of peace and non-violence.
Introduced in the US House of Representatives by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney from New York on September 23, the resolution (H R 6916) is co-sponsored by four Indian-American lawmakers in the House - Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took part in a
"padyatra" in Nagpur to mark Gandhi Jayanti.
"As we are entering Bapu's 150th birth anniversary year, let us strive to work hard to dedicate a #SwachhBharat to Him, this year!" he tweeted
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Ram Naik paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Gandhi Jayanti in Lucknow.
"On the occasion of 150th Gandhi Jayanti, let us all join Bapu's message, contribute to keeping the country and region clean," Yogi Adityanath wrote on Twitter.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Ram Naik paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on Gandhi Jayanti in Lucknow
Students of the Central Railway School in Kalyan painted a local train to mark Gandhi Jayanti and create awareness for Swachh Bharat
President Ram Nath Kovind paid his tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on Gandhi Jayanti
Some students from a school in Chennai had, on Monday,
dressed up as Mahatma Gandhi and performed yoga and posed as statues of the Mahatma to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti
"Events related to sanitation and renewable energy shall be the focus of the Prime Minister's engagements on Gandhi Jayanti," said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.
At the Rashtrapati Bhavan cultural centre, the Prime Minister will attend the closing session of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention -- a four-day international conference that has brought together sanitation ministers and other leaders from around the world.
The Swachh Bharat Awards will also be distributed on this occasion.
Three monuments in Delhi - Gol Gumbad, Bijri Khan and Paik tombs - will be
illuminated with the tricolour for seven days from Gandhi Jayanti, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has said.
"Through community engagement and cultural interventions, we want to highlight the amazing layers of Delhi's history and keep alive its composite culture," he said
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi
paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi was one of the first senior leaders to pay homage to Gandhiji at his iconic memorial.
Sonia Gandhi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia paid their homage to the Mahatma. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi then left. The Congress leaders are slated to travel to Wardha in Maharashtra for the meeting of the Congress Working Committee