Gandhi Jayanti

Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday in India celebrated on 2nd October. This day is celebrated in the honor of the birthday of the Father of the nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi or Bapuji. Internationally this day is celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence as Gandhiji was the preacher of non-violence. He is a symbol of peace and truth.

Gandhiji was born on 2nd October 1869, in Porbunder, a small town in Gujarat. He studied law in U.K and practiced law in South Africa. In his autobiography "My experiments with Truth" Gandhiji described his childhood and teen age years, his marriage with Kasturba at the age of 13 and a sheer dedication for his mother land. He has set an example of simple living and high thinking. He was against the addictions like smoking, drinking and non-vegetarianism.

Gandhiji was a pioneer of truth and non-violence. He started the 'Satyagraha' (non-violence) movement for the Indian freedom struggle. He played a very significant role in achieving independence for India from British rule. He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of total non-violence.

All the organizations throughout the country remain closed on this day. Special event is organized at Raj Ghat, New Delhi where Gandhiji was cremated. People do prayers, pay homage and sing Gandhiji's favorite song "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sita Ram...".

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

The International Day of Non-Violence

The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.

In January 2004, Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi had taken a proposal for an International Day of Non-Violence from a Hindi teacher in Paris teaching international students to the World Social Forum in Mumbai. The idea gradually attracted the interest of some leaders.

On 15 June 2007 the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence.

The resolution by the General Assembly asks all members of the UN system to commemorate 2 October in "an appropriate manner and disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness."