India pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi

New Delhi/ Ahmedabad, Jan 30 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday paid floral tributes at Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's memorial on his 62nd death anniversary.

Vice President Hamid Ansari and Congress President Sonia Gandhi also paid floral tributes at the Gandhi memorial.

They were followed by the Defence Minister A K Antony and other dignitaries.

Sabarmati Ashram near Ahmedabad in Gujarat also known as Gandhi Ashram, paid homage to its founder Mahatma Gandhi on his 62nd death anniversary.

Gandhi had set up the institution to propagate his teachings on non-violence and dedicated it to uplift the downtrodden classes of the society in the early years of the freedom movement.

Followers of all religions Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Hinduism recited prayers from their respective scriptures and explained the meaning to the audience in simple terms.

Thousands of locals including students, foreign nationals and Gandhian followers participated in the event.

Sabarmati Ashram Secretary Amrut Modi urged the masses to adopt Gandhian teachings in their lives. He said that materialistic approach has changed the mindset of the society.

"The technology has changed the society, it changes the ideology of the masses that is why we are moving away from Gandhian teachings and principles," added Modi.

Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was assassinated on January 30, 1948, and day is observed as Martyrs Day in the country. (ANI)