In pics: Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary celebrations across India

Gandhi Jayanti is a national festival celebrated in India to mark the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation who was born on October 2, 1869

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Gandhi Jayanti is a national festival celebrated in India to mark the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was born on October 2, 1869. Gandhi Jayanti is one of the three national holidays in India. The UN General Assembly announced on June 15, 2007 that October 2 will be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.

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Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian activist and leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule. Indians widely describe Gandhi as the Father of the Nation. The origin of this title is traced back to a radio address (on Singapore radio) on July 6, 1944 by Subhash Chandra Bose, in which Bose addressed Gandhi as "The Father of the Nation". On April 28, 1947, Sarojini Naidu also referred Gandhi as "Father of the Nation" during a conference.

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Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a nationwide campaign started on October 2, 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. which aims to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure of India's cities, smaller towns, and rural areas. The objectives of Swachh Bharat include eliminating open defecation through the construction of household and community toilets and the establishment of an accountable mechanism for monitoring toilet use. The mission was to achieve an Open-Defecation Free (ODF) India by the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, by constructing 90 million toilets in rural India.

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Gandhi expanded his non-violent non-co-operation platform to include the swadeshi policy – the boycott of foreign-made goods, especially British goods. Linked to this was his advocacy that khadi (homespun cloth) be worn by all Indians instead of British-made textiles. Gandhi exhorted Indian men and women, rich or poor, to spend time each day spinning khadi in support of the independence movement.

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This year marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The nation on Tuesday paid homage to the Mahatma with President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering floral tributes to the Father of the Nation at Rajghat. Modi visited Rajghat to offer his tributes to Gandhi and said: "The noble thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi have given strength to millions across the world. He was a stalwart who lived for others and (sought) to make our world a better place (to live in)."

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid floral tribute at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat, in New Delhi. Remembering his contribution to peace. In a tweet, he said, "At Mahatma Gandhi's memorial, I am reminded once again that he proved that non-violence can change history. As we mark the 150th anniversary of his birth, may his wisdom and determination guide our collective work towards peace and prosperity on a healthy planet."