Gandhi Jayanti celebrated across Punjab, Haryana

CHANDIGARH: The 146th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was today celebrated 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.

Tributes were also paid to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, whose birth anniversary also falls on this day.

People from different walks of life also took a pledge to follow the principles of non-violence and truth as advocated by Gandhi.

Various other functions were also organised in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh to pay tributes to Gandhi and Shastri.

Shastri carried forward the movement of Gandhi and sacrificed his life for the country, people said.

Celebrations to mark Bapu's birth anniversary also took place at several other places including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Karnal, Rohtak, Ambala and Sirsa.