Gandhi Jayanti (02 October) History, Significance, Theme and Observation

Gandhi Jayanti Quick Facts

Gandhi Jayanti Brief

Gandhi Jayanti is an event celebrated in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, born on 2 October 1869. It is celebrated annually on 2 October and is one of the three national holidays of India.

The Day is also celebrated as World Day of Nonviolence; the United Nations General Assembly announced on 15 June 2007 that 2 October would also be observed as the Day of Non-Internationalism.

More info about Gandhi Jayanti

Gandhi Jayanti Celebration:

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated annually on 2 October. It is one of the official declared national holidays of India hence celebrated in all the states and union territories of India.

Gandhi Jayanti is marked by prayer services and tributes across India, with Gandhi being cremated at his memorial in New Delhi. Popular activities include prayer meetings, memorial ceremonies by colleges, local government institutions and socio-political institutions in different cities.

Painting and essay competitions are organized and the best prizes are awarded for projects in schools and the community celebrates Gandhi's effort in the Indian independence movement while promoting a non-violent way of life. Gandhi's favorite bhajan (Hindu devotional song), Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, is usually sung in his memory. All over the country, Mahatma Gandhi statues are decorated with flowers and garlands and public buildings, banks and post offices etc. are office holidays.

Interesting Facts About Mahatma Gandhi:

• Mahatma Gandhi's father's name was Karamchand Gandhi and mother's name was Putlibai who was the fourth wife of Karamchand Gandhi, Gandhi was the last child of his father's fourth wife.
• In May 1883, he was married to Kasturba, 14, as soon as he completed the age of 13 and a half years, Mohandas and Kasturba had four children, all of whom were sons.
• During his visit to England in the year 1931, Gandhi gave a speech to America for the first time on the radio, his first words on the radio were "Do I have to speak (microphone) inside it?"
• Gandhi was first addressed as Mahatma in the year 1915 by Rajvaidya Jivaram Kalidas.
• Mahatma Gandhi was awarded the "Most Important Person of the Year" by America's prestigious Time magazine in the year 1930.
• On 6 July 1944, Subhash Chandra Bose addressed him as the Father of the Nation in a broadcast in the name of Gandhiji through Rangoon radio medium.
• Gandhi's first major achievement was in the Champaran Satyagraha and Kheda Satyagraha in the year 1914.
• National Gandhi Memorial Day is celebrated on 30 January every year in the United Kingdom.
• Mahatma Gandhi went to London to study law and become a barrister. He studied in London and obtained the degree of barrister, but he was unsuccessful in the first debate in the Bombay High Court.
• Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, one of the world's largest mobile companies, used to wear round glasses to pay respect to Gandhiji.
• There are more than 50 roads named after Mahatma Gandhi except minor roads in India. Also, there are about 60 roads abroad in the name of Gandhiji.
• Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Prize 5 times, but he did not receive the Nobel Prize even once.
• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse at Birla Bhawan in New Delhi on the evening of 30 January 1948.
• In his Autobiography "The Story of My Experiments with Truth", Gandhiji described the philosophy and the path of his life.

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