Gandhi Jayanti 2026: Nation honours Gandhi, Shastri on 2 October
Why in the news
On 2 October 2026 the country paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 157th birth anniversary and to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary. The same day was also the death anniversary of K. Kamaraj.
Key facts
- 157th birth anniversary: Gandhi Jayanti 2026 was the 157th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth.
- Rajghat: A Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha (all-faith prayer meeting) was held at Bapu’s samadhi; President Droupadi Murmu attended and offered floral tributes.
- Khadi and Swadeshi: PM Narendra Modi urged every citizen to buy at least one khadi product on 2 October and linked Gandhi’s ideas to the goal of a Viksit Bharat.
- Vijay Ghat: Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan paid tributes at Rajghat and at Vijay Ghat, the memorial of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
- K. Kamaraj: The Vice-President recalled the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s role in starting the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, expanding roads and schools, building dams and setting up industrial estates.
| Leader | Occasion on 2 October | Memorial / note |
|---|---|---|
| Mahatma Gandhi | 157th birth anniversary | Rajghat |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri | Birth anniversary | Vijay Ghat |
| K. Kamaraj | Death anniversary | Mid-Day Meal pioneer |
About the International Day of Non-Violence
The UN General Assembly created the day through resolution A/RES/61/271, adopted on 15 June 2007. It is held on 2 October because it is Gandhi’s birthday, and it aims to spread the message of non-violence through education and public awareness.
Exam angle
- Remember the memorials: Rajghat (Gandhi) and Vijay Ghat (Shastri).
- The International Day of Non-Violence was set up by the UN in 2007.
- Kamaraj is linked with the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Tamil Nadu.
- Khadi and Swadeshi were central themes of the PM’s message.