When is Gandhi Jayanti?
Gandhi Jayanti is a national holiday celebrated across India to mark the birthday of the great Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi, known by many Indians as the "Father of the Nation".
It is celebrated on October 2nd every year. It is one of three officially declared National Holidays of India and is observed in all its states and territories.
History of Gandhi Jayanti
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2nd 1869 in Gujarat, then known as Porbandar, British India.
Gandhi lived his life with acceptance and practice of truth, non-violence, vegetarianism, simplicity, and faith in God and was a major political and spiritual leader within India. He was a pioneer of Satyagraha, which believed in resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon total non-violence.
His honorific title of Mahatma, which means "high-souled" in Sanskrit, was first used in 1914 in South Africa.
The movement led India to independence and his efforts have since inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. He was a source of inspiration to many political leaders all over the world, including Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr.
How is Gandhi Jayanti celebrated?
The day is marked by prayer services all over India, and especially at Raj Ghat, Gandhi's memorial in New Delhi where he was cremated.
Celebrations on the day include prayer meetings and commemorative ceremonies in various cities by colleges, local government institutions and socio-political institutions.
Painting and essay competitions are held and awards are announced for projects in schools and the community, on the themes of glorifying peace, non-violence and Gandhi's effort in Indian Freedom Struggle.
Often Gandhi's favourite devotional song, Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram is sung in memory of him.
This holiday is a dry day in India when the sale of alcohol is not permitted.
The impact and fame of Gandhi beyond India are reflected in the International Day of Nonviolence which is celebrated worldwide on his birthday.
No Nobel Prize
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30th 1948, two days before the closing date for that year’s Nobel Peace Prize nominations. The intention was to award it to him posthumously, given his previous nominations. However, the committee decided that posthumous awards, should not take place unless the laureate died after the Committee’s decision had been made.
Instead, on November 18th 1948, the Norwegian Nobel Committee decided to make no award that year on the grounds that “there was no suitable living candidate”.
2014 and the 'pledge of cleanliness'
In 2014, the government asked all public sector employees to attend work on 2 October, to spend the day cleaning their offices to mark the launch of the 'Clean India' initiative. This request to work on a national holiday did not apply to the private sector. Despite this, technically this was still a non-working day, as employees came to work to clean, not do their normal duties.
