Our third important National Festival is the Gandhi Jayanti. It is celebrated on 2nd October every year. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation was born on 2nd October 1869. His birth day is celebrated as National Festival all over the country. He led our nation in our fight for the freedom. Truth and Non-violence were his only tools in this fight against the British. His way of fighting was Satyagraha. He taught us to be honest and truthful.
Gandhiji was one of our great leaders who fought for the independence of the country and won it. He was a selfless leader and suffered many hardships for the freedom of our country. He was sent to jail many a times, but he suffered all this for the sake of the country. He believed in the social equality. He was deadly against untouchability. He called them Harijans or the children of God. He was loved by all his countrymen. Respectfully we call him Bapu or the Father of the Nation.
At national level Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on 2nd October every year at Raj Ghat or Gandhiji’s Samadhi at New Delhi. Many people and our great leaders including the Rashtrapati and the Prime Minister pay homage to this great leader of the Nation. They place wreaths at the Samadhi and offerings of flowers. All religions prayer is held at the Samadhi in the morning. Charkha competition is held and Ram Dhun is sung.
In all State capitals and in towns and cities Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated as a National Festival. Gandhi Jayanti is also celebrated in schools and colleges. All our National Festivals are paid national holidays throughout the country. These festivals are celebrated with great reverence and pomp and show.