New Delhi: Marking the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation at Rajghat and attended an interfaith prayer meeting at Gandhi Smriti in the national capital on Friday.
The solemn occasion was marked by hymns and devotional songs performed by artists and schoolchildren at Gandhi Smriti, where the Prime Minister offered flowers before a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, recalling his enduring message of truth, peace, and non-violence. Following the formal proceedings, PM Modi spent quality time interacting with the young students present. He was seen shaking hands and warmly conversing with the children, a moment he later highlighted as a “key highlight” of his visit.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister shared his reflections. “Joined the prayer meeting at Gandhi Smriti. We recalled the timeless message of Bapu. A key highlight was the interaction with my young friends,” he wrote. PM Modi further emphasised that Mahatma Gandhi’s life, which stood as an epitome of truth, non-violence, compassion, and service, will continue to guide humanity across generations. “Bapu’s message continues to inspire people to move forward in the direction of building a better society and a developed India,” he noted.
The Prime Minister also visited the Samvidhan Sadan (Old Parliament House), where he paid tributes to the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, whose birth anniversary is also celebrated on October 2. While at the Samvidhan Sadan, PM Modi once again took the opportunity to engage with the schoolchildren gathered for the occasion.
Earlier in the day, he visited Vijay Ghat to honour Lal Bahadur Shastri, remembering the legacy of the leader who served as India’s Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966 and gave the nation the iconic slogan, Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan also visited Gandhi Smriti to pay his respects, commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s unparalleled contribution to the freedom movement and his message of social harmony and development. Similar tributes poured in from across the country as the nation collectively honoured the memory of the two great leaders.