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इतिहास
The history, origin and significance of Gandhi Jayanti — where it comes from, what it means, and how it changed over time.
Gandhi Jayanti 2026: 2 October 20261 dayगांधी जयंती
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Gandhi Jayanti is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. In 2026 it falls on a Friday. It is a national holiday in India, and the United Nations also observes the date as the International Day of Non-Violence, declared in 2007.
It is the quietest of India's three national days. There is no parade and no national address. Instead, the day is marked with prayer meetings at Raj Ghat and at Gandhi's other memorials, the singing of Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram and Vaishnav Jan To, and the reading of his writings. The President, the Prime Minister and other leaders pay respects at Raj Ghat in Delhi, and similar ceremonies are held at Gandhi's other memorials — Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Sevagram in Wardha, and Birla House.
The day is also, distinctively, a day of cleanliness and service. Swachh Bharat activities, shramdaan (voluntary labour), tree planting, and cleanliness drives at schools and offices are the most common way the day is marked practically, following Gandhi's emphasis on sanitation as a political issue. A nationwide cleanliness campaign is also observed in the fortnight around the date.
It is one of the few Indian holidays that is not a festival in any religious or social sense — it is an observance, and its content is mostly decided by whoever is marking it. Schools hold prayer meetings and essay competitions, some offices organise shramdaan, and liquor shops are closed on the day in most states.
Almost every large Indian festival means something different in different states. That is not a contradiction — it is the history.
The national observance at Raj Ghat, with the President, Prime Minister and other leaders paying respects, a multi-faith prayer meeting, and the singing of Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram.
Gandhi's ashram holds a full day of prayer, spinning and reflection, and the state observes the day with particular seriousness given his Gujarati origins.
Sevagram, Gandhi's later ashram, holds a prayer meeting and constructive-work programme, and Wardha's institutions run a full day of activities.
Gandhi Jayanti is observed with prayer meetings and school programmes, and the Gandhi memorial sites in Madurai and Chennai hold observances.
Observed with prayer meetings, and the state's institutions run cleanliness drives and shramdaan programmes on the day.
Observed with cleanliness drives and prayer meetings, and the day is a public holiday with the standard ceremonies at schools and government offices.
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