Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 01: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands will observe October 2 as Gandhi Jayanti, with the Administration scheduling the main commemorative programme at Gandhi Park and declaring the day a dry day. The observance will also include community cleanliness drives and Shramdaan activities under the Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign.
The main function at Gandhi Park will begin at 8.14 am. Lieutenant Governor Dr. Dinesh Sharma will pay floral tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, followed by prayers featuring “Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye Je” and Ramdhuns by teachers and students of the Education Department.
A two-minute silence will also be observed during the programme.

As part of the observance, government departments, institutions, autonomous bodies, corporations, Panchayat Pradhans, voluntary organisations and villagers have been asked to undertake Shramdaan to create community assets and conduct special cleanliness drives during the month under the Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign.
The Administration has also appealed to the general public to refrain from certain activities on October 2. The appeal includes avoiding the slaughter of animals, killing of birds, fishing and consumption of liquor on the day.
The Islands will observe October 2 as a “Dry Day” as part of the tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
The programme combines the formal commemoration at Gandhi Park with community-level activities, placing cleanliness and voluntary labour among the activities planned around the occasion.
The Administration’s appeal covers government bodies as well as community institutions and villagers, with Shramdaan and cleanliness activities forming part of the observance during the month.
The October 2 programme will therefore bring together the main ceremonial event at Gandhi Park, prayers and silence, along with community participation in cleanliness and asset-creation activities under the campaign.



