Raj Ghat is the Samadhi or memorial of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi better known as Mahatma Gandhi, located on the banks of the Yamuna River.Dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi after his death on January 31, 1948, the Raj Ghat is a simple square platform made up of black marble open to the sky with an eternal flame burning bright at one end throughout the day and night.The memorial rests within a walled enclosure.Lush green lawns sprawl across either side of a stoned footpath that leads to the memorial.There are a number of trees in the premises planted by various dignitaries on a visit to the memorial; the trees are labelled with the names of the people who planted them.One cannot fail to notice the inscribed words "Hey Ram" on the memorial which are believed to be the last words spoken by the Mahatma himself at the time of his death.The simplicity of this construction depicts the simple life led by Mahatma Gandhi.As a mark of respect, visitors visiting the memorial are requested to treat this holy place as one would treat a temple.One has to remove footwear before proceeding towards the memorial.A ceremony in the honour of Mahatma Gandhi is held every Friday which happens to be the day he breathed his last.Prayer sessions are held on every January 31st and October 2nd every year to mark Gandhi's birth and death anniversaries.This proves that the Father of our Nation, Gandhi or Bapu as he is fondly remembered stays alive in our hearts forever.It gives a great sense of pride to observe the customary tradition wherein foreign dignitaries visiting India make it a point to lay wreath or flowers and pay their homage to one of the great souls of mankind - Mahatma Gandhi.The bank of river Yamuna houses many more memorials in honour of the contributors to the nation, all closely situated to Raj Ghat.Towards the north of Raj Ghat rests the Samadhi of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, known as the Shantivan or the Forest of Peace.An interesting piece of information is that the landscapes and the floral arrangement of these memorials were designed by Sydney Percy -Lancaster, the Secretary of the Agri Horticultural Society of India during those days.Every child is also aware of the fact that Mahatma Gandhi was a peace-loving man.He believed in truth and non-violence and led India to attain her freedom in 1947.His simplicity can be marked by his lifestyle and high thoughts.He lived in a self sufficient set up, ate simple vegetarian food and wore simple clothes in the form of the traditional Indian dhoti and a shawl.The dhoti was made from the yarn that spun out of his Charkha.He worked towards ending poverty, eradicating caste and creed discriminations.This noble thought reflects in the fact that anyone and everyone are allowed to visit Raj Ghat irrespective of the religion or caste.
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