Over 4600 children dress up as Mahatma Gandhi in Bengaluru, enter Guinness Book of World Records

Bengaluru: Marking the 146th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Bengaluru, Venkat, Stann's and Venus group of institutions on Friday opened their account in the Guinness book of world records for the largest gathering of people dressed as the Father of the Nation.

According to organisers of the event, as many as 4605 children participated in the event to break the record of largest gathering of people dressed as Gandhi.

The nation remembered Mahatma Gandhi with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders paying floral tributes to him at Rajghat in Delhi.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Mahesh Sharma, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BJP leader LK Advani and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad too joined in paying homage to the Father of the Nation.

Modi, who arrived at Rajghat at around 7:40 am, offered rose petals to the 'samadhi', which attracted a large number of Gandhian followers and admirers on Friday. Clad in a khadi kurta and white pyjama, and a long traditional scarf, Modi, during his brief visit there, paid homage to the Mahatma by bowing his head at his memorial and performing a 'parikrama' (circumambulation) around it.

"Heartfelt homage to revered father of the nation ('Poojya baapu ko shat shat naman')," Modi wrote on Twitter.

President Mukherjee also paid floral tributes to the Mahatma at his memorial. An all-faith prayer ceremony was also held on the occasion at the memorial. Both Modi and Mukherjee attended the function during their brief visits.

Gandhi was also remembered with enthusiasm and fervour across the twin states of Punjab and Haryana.

Dressed in khadi, students and other people showed their participation and enthusiasm to mark the occasion.

Three famed monkeys of exemplifying Gandhi's values were the main attraction at functions at different places in the twin states, and their joint capital.

Leaders of Congress units of both Punjab and Haryana also celebrated the functions at several places and recited poems and speeches highlighting Gandhi's principles.

Gandhi is a symbol of peace, harmony, patience, perseverance, dedication and devotion, the leaders said, adding, that he was loved by all his countrymen.