NEW DELHI — On the solemn occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led national tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at a interfaith prayer ceremony held at Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi on Friday.
The annual memorial service at the iconic venue was held in the presence of Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, alongside spiritual representatives from various faith communities and student delegates.
Key Highlights of the Memorial Gathering
The interfaith gathering brought together devotional recitations, cultural performances, and civic engagement aimed at honoring Bapu’s legacy of peace and non-violence:
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Musical Performance by Students: A choir of school students rendered live renditions of classic devotional hymns, notably “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram”, accompanied by traditional musical instruments.
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Prime Minister’s Interaction: Following the recital, Prime Minister Modi spent several minutes engaging with the young musicians, exchanging greetings, blessing the performers, and answering their questions.
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Interfaith Dialogue: The Prime Minister exchanged greetings with religious leaders representing major faiths across the country, highlighting Mahatma Gandhi’s enduring message of communal harmony.
“Joined the prayer meeting at Gandhi Smriti. We recalled the timeless message of Bapu. A key highlight was the interaction with my young friends,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked in an official post on X.
Legacy and Context
Mahatma Gandhi, born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, led India’s freedom struggle through the principles of Satyagraha and non-violent resistance. His final days were spent at Birla House—now Gandhi Smriti—where he was assassinated on January 30, 1948. The memorial venue remains a central site for national remembrance every year.
