Visitors throng Sabarmati ashram on Gandhi Jayanti

The main attraction at the ashram was artist Girish Panchal's unique drawings of 'Bapu'. Visitors, including foreigners, made a beeline for Panchal's exhibition, where on display was 144 drawings carved by his thumb nail on paper, depicting Gandhi's journeys within the country and across the world.

"The main aim behind the exhibition springs from my inspiration to do something for society. And, who better to portray than Gandhiji?" Panchal told PTI.

Meanwhile, Gandhian Amrut Modi lamented that India has strayed from the path and teachings of the Mahatma.

"Indian society believes in hero-worship. Gandhi, Tagore, Nehru, Patel, among others, were towering socio-political reformers of the 19th century, whose anniversaries were celebrated in the 20th century," Modi, Secretary of Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust, said.

"But, whose anniversary will we commemorate in the 21st century?" Modi asked, pointing to the lack of genuine leaders in the present Indian society.

Earlier, Governor Kamla Beniwal attended an all-religion prayer programme at the ashram and led the state in paying tributes to the Father of the Nation.