Gandhi Jayanti 2026: India to mark Mahatma Gandhi's 157th birth anniversary on Friday, October 2
Gandhi Jayanti 2026 will be observed across India on Friday, October 2, marking the 157th birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi — universally known as Mahatma Gandhi — who was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat. The day honours the life of one of the most important leaders of India's freedom struggle and commemorates his contribution to the independence movement.
October 2 carries a double significance on the world stage: the United Nations also marks the date as the International Day of Non-Violence, spreading messages of peace through education and public awareness.
Why is Gandhi Jayanti celebrated?
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on the date of birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who became one of the most important figures of the Indian freedom struggle. He is associated with a unique form of resistance rooted in truth and non-violence — his technique of Satyagraha, literally meaning resistance based on truth and non-violence, became a vital component of the movements opposing British rule.
His techniques were later applied in fights for civil rights far beyond India. The day stands as a symbol of the ideologies associated with him: non-violence, peace, truth, tolerance and social responsibility.
From Porbandar to the Salt March: The history
Gandhi was born into a Hindu family in Porbandar in Kathiawad (now Gujarat) in 1869. He trained as a lawyer in London and became involved in South Africa in 1893, where he experienced racial discrimination that shaped his political beliefs. He returned to India in 1915 and immersed himself in the independence movements.
He advocated Swadeshi, a movement promoting the boycott of foreign-made goods and peaceful protest against British rule, and took part in several non-violent political actions — the most famous being the 1930 Salt March, the journey of Gandhi's followers from his ashram in Gujarat to Dandi to protest against the salt tax imposed by the British Raj. The protest turned historical and became a landmark chapter of India's freedom struggle.
Gandhi was shot and killed on January 30, 1948, in New Delhi — a date observed in India as Martyrs' Day.
The significance of October 2
- A reminder of non-violence: Non-violence was a key element of Gandhi's political philosophy and action, and his various movements demonstrated that non-violent mass protests could succeed.
- A celebration of truth and Satyagraha: Satyagraha, the philosophical concept developed by Gandhi with truth at its core, promoted non-violent resistance to injustice and was practised in South Africa as well as in India's independence struggle.
- A link to the freedom struggle: Gandhi's campaigns mobilised a large portion of the population for anti-colonial activities of various kinds, cementing October 2's place in modern Indian history.
- A message of universal significance: In 2007, the United Nations declared October 2 the International Day of Non-Violence, using the date to spread messages of non-violence through education and public awareness.
How the day is celebrated
Gandhi Jayanti is marked with prayer activities and events in remembrance of the great leader. Rajghat in New Delhi, the site of Gandhi's memorial, is central to the observance, with official celebrations normally involving paying tributes and conducting a prayer ceremony.
Schools and educational organisations also organise additional activities such as essay-writing competitions, debates and discussions, art and poster contests, speeches on Gandhi's life, quiz competitions, prayer meetings and cultural events — all with the main idea of introducing young people to Gandhi's ideas.
Why the day still matters
More than seventy years since Gandhi's demise, Gandhi Jayanti remains one of the significant days of the Indian public calendar. Its observance connects the past with the present, keeping conversations about the historical figure and the independence movement alive alongside discussions of non-violence, peace, tolerance and civic responsibility throughout the world.
In 2026, October 2 falls on a Friday. But besides being a public holiday, the date presents an opportunity to study the history of the freedom struggle in India as well as the fundamental principles of the philosophy of this prominent Indian figure.