Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti Celebrations in Colombia

Embassy of India celebrated Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti by paying floral tributes to the "Father of the Nation". On this occasion Minister of State for Urban Development  Prof. Saugata Roy addressed the audience on the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi's teachings in the 21st century.

The Mahatma Gandhi Foundation in Medellín also organised  the first Festival of Nonviolence.     Four Forums were held in the city's major libraries and seven educational workshops were conducted in the poorest neeighborhoods.
 The inauguration took place in the famous Parque Explora.   As the night turned in the evening, more than 500 people lit candles in the square near the stunning Biblioteca España, high up on the hills of Medellín.   Bearing candles and wearing Gandhi masks, the crowd marched through the streets of Comuna 1, joined by the police, the Mayor's office and the Scouts as well as people of all ages from the neighbourhood.  The March to Reject Violence ended with a concert by some of Colombia's young music bands.

There was a day of Yoga - with over 350 participants - in the beautiful Botanical Gardens.  One of the most ambitious events was organised with The Metro: ten human statues dressed as Mahatma Gandhi and 'Rompe-Tráficos' (life-size cardboard cutouts of Foundation members) along with a team of Foundation staff handed out Gandhiji's quotes not only made commuters  think about the principles of nonviolence but also made national and regional news.

The Festival was a grand success, garnering support from major public bodies around Medellín as well as the Scouts and the Media. 

The image of Gandhi and the message of nonviolence was stamped into the minds of well over 15,000 Medellín citizens. 

For more information on Mahatma Gandhi Foundation please click here
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Citizens of Medellín wering Gandhi's customes.

Minister of State for Urban Development Prof. Saugata Roy visits the floral tribute.

Ambassador of India Riewad Warjri visits the floral tributel.

The Embassy staff during the event.