Gandhi Jayanti
Introduction: One of the National holidays in India is Gandhi Jayanti. It is celebrated on 2nd October every year.
International Day of Non-violence: It is observed on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. On 15th June, 2007, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) announced a new resolution to observe 2nd October as the International Day of Non-Violence. This day is celebrated all over the world.
Significance: Gandhi played a very important role in country’s freedom struggle against the foreign rule. It is a matter of pride for all of us that our country achieved independence following the path of Non-violence. He also wrote an autobiography that was named ‘My experiments with Truth?. Hence, the day of Gandhi Jayanti holds special importance for every Indian.
Mahatma Gandhi: Mahatma Gandhi (original name is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) is commonly known as ‘Gandhi? and ‘Bapu?. ‘Bapu means ‘Father?.
Rabindranath Tagore, one of the greatest Indian poet, gave Gandhi the title of ‘Mahatma?, which literally means ‘Great Soul?. In Sanskrit ‘Maha? means ‘Great? and ‘Atma? means ‘Soul?.
He was born at Porbandar in Gujarat on 2nd October, 1869. He was a very simple man lived a very simple life. However, his thoughts and philosophy influenced many peoples. He always followed the principles of non-violence, truth, and honesty. Thus, he coined the term ‘Satyagraha? which means ‘Truth (Satya)? and ‘Non-Violence (Ahimsa)?.
All this inspired many great leaders like James Lawson, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela, etc.
Celebration: People celebrate the Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October with reverence. Mass prayers and spinning are held at his samadhi at Rajghat in Delhi on 2nd October.
Gandhi is remembered by the whole nation on this day for his teachings, principles, and ideologies. Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite song, Raghupati Raghav, is sung everywhere on this day. As this day is a National Holiday, everyone enjoys this day by spending the day with his or her dear ones.
