Commemorations marking the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi alongside the 122nd birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri took place across India on Friday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Rajghat in New Delhi during the early hours to lay floral wreaths at the memorial of the Father of the Nation. The occasion, which is also celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence, witnessed solemn ceremonies recalling the enduring tenets of truth and peace. Soon after honoring Gandhi, the Prime Minister visited Vijay Ghat to offer his respects to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, commemorating his lifelong integrity and dedicated service to the republic.
Memorial Tributes at Rajghat and Vijay Ghat
A continuous stream of dignitaries and citizens gathered at Rajghat from the early morning hours to pay homage to the principles championed by Mahatma Gandhi. At the memorial, prayers were offered while leaders reflected on how Gandhi's emphasis on communal harmony and non-violent resolution remains fundamental to governance and society. Simultaneously, solemn ceremonies took place at Vijay Ghat to mark the anniversary of Shastri, who was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. Remembering his extraordinary humility, moral fortitude, and leadership during testing historical times, representatives across the political spectrum and members of the public joined together to celebrate the legacies left by both leaders.
Commencement of a Thirty-Day National Cleanliness Campaign
Aligning the commemorations with civic duty and community participation, Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy called for a comprehensive 30-day nationwide sanitation drive starting on Gandhi Jayanti. Scheduled to run from October 2 through October 31, the public campaign will conclude on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The minister urged widespread public involvement to ensure the sanitation effort functions as a collective community initiative. In addition to individual citizens, government departments and commercial enterprises were called upon to participate actively. Educational establishments and non-governmental organisations were also requested to join hands in promoting grassroots cleanliness, recycling efforts, and community hygiene across towns and rural areas over the month-long schedule.
Ministers and State Leaders Reaffirm Core Principles
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari reflected on Gandhi's teachings, emphasizing that the Mahatma's life provides an enduring blueprint for global peace and mutual respect. He also noted that Gandhi's concepts of Swadeshi and self-governance serve as guiding lights for self-reliance and sustainable local development.
Tributes also poured in from state leadership across India. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath honored the Father of the Nation, calling his adherence to truth and non-violence an essential guide for contemporary society. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi as well, remarking that Gandhian ideals of truth and non-violence remain profoundly relevant today. Across numerous regions, morning processions, symposia, and public cleanliness events marked the joint anniversaries, renewing a collective pledge toward moral integrity and civic responsibility.
