Varanasi: With a message of global peace, a Ganga aarti and cleanliness drive were organised on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi on Thursday to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries.The event paid tribute to Gandhi, who showed the world the path of non-violence, and Shastri, who gave the country the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”.As part of the programme, the banks of the Ganga at the front ghat were cleaned, with Namami Gange conveying the message that cleanliness is the most beautiful tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.The cleanliness drive was conducted in coordination with the Namami Gange Kashi region coordinator and municipal corporation cleanliness brand ambassador Rajesh Shukla. The initiative was aimed at encouraging greater public participation in the cleanliness drive and promoting environmental protection.During the programme, an aarti was performed to Mother Ganga with the Tricolour, while participants carried pictures of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. The event also emphasised environmental protection, respecting the balance of nature and protecting biodiversity.Meanwhile, additional director general of police Naveen Arora paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries at Varanasi Zone premises on Friday.The ADG garlanded the portraits of both the leaders, while a ceremonial guard of honour was also presented in their memory.Divisional commissioner S Rajalingam offered floral tributes to Gandhi and Shastri. Addressing officials and employees, he emphasised the need to imbibe the life values and ideals of both great personalities. He called upon officials and employees to perform their duties with honesty, dedication and transparency while following the ideals of both leaders.At the Collectorate Auditorium, DM Satyendra Kumar garlanded the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri and paid homage to them. The programme also began with the singing of “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram,” followed by a folk song on Gandhi and Shastri presented by artist Udaynath.At Banaras Locomotive Works, programmes were organised under Swachhta Pakhwada-2026 to mark the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Led by general manager Ashutosh Pant, events focused on cleanliness, environmental protection and public participation. The GM administered a cleanliness pledge and later a plantation drive was held at Amrit Kanan Garden under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. A cleanliness awareness rally was also organised.At the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, hundreds of fruit-bearing trees were planted on the occasion as a part of the week-long ‘Swachhta Hi Seva 2026’ campaign.Registrar Sunita Chandra said Gandhi’s idea of non-violence was not limited to human beings but included respect and protection for all living beings and nature.
