Zillar Barta Desk,New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attended a special interfaith prayer meeting at Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi to mark the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The occasion brought together political leaders, religious representatives, artists and school students to remember Gandhi and his enduring message of truth, peace and non-violence.
During the programme, school students and artists presented devotional songs, including “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.” Following the prayer meeting, Prime Minister Modi interacted with the young students who had participated in the programme. He shook hands with several children and spoke with them in an informal interaction.
The Prime Minister later described his interaction with the young participants as a key highlight of the Gandhi Jayanti programme. In a post on X, Modi said that he had joined the prayer meeting at Gandhi Smriti and that the occasion was an opportunity to recall the timeless message of Mahatma Gandhi.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. He also attended the Sarva-Dharma Prarthana at Gandhi's memorial. At Gandhi Smriti, he again paid tribute to Gandhi and recalled the values associated with his life and public service.
Gandhi Smriti holds particular historical significance as the place where Mahatma Gandhi spent the final months of his life and where he was assassinated on January 30, 1948. The venue has consequently remained an important location for commemorative programmes connected with Gandhi's life and legacy.
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan also attended the programme and paid his respects to Mahatma Gandhi. Schoolchildren and eminent singers participated in the devotional programme, adding a cultural dimension to the Gandhi Jayanti observance.
The interaction between the Prime Minister and the students was one of the notable moments of the event. The children were seen speaking with Modi and responding to his questions. The Prime Minister also greeted students and spent time interacting with them after the musical performances.
The engagement with students came against the backdrop of Gandhi Jayanti, when educational institutions and public organisations across India organise programmes focused on Gandhi's principles and his role in India's freedom movement.
Later, at Samvidhan Sadan, Modi also paid floral tributes to the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. A large number of school students were present there as well, and the Prime Minister interacted with them.
October 2 is observed as Gandhi Jayanti every year to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat. The United Nations also observes October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence, reflecting the international recognition of Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance.
The 2026 Gandhi Jayanti programmes therefore combined traditional tributes and prayer meetings with interactions involving younger generations. At Gandhi Smriti, the presence of school students and their interaction with the Prime Minister formed an important part of the day's proceedings.
The event served as a reminder of Gandhi's continuing place in India's public and educational life, while the Prime Minister's interaction with students provided a direct engagement between the country's young generation and a national commemoration centred on Gandhi's ideals.
