New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS): Strains of his favourite 'bhajans' played and an all-religion prayer service was conducted as the nation's leadership gathered Tuesday to remember the apostle of peace Mahatma Gandhi on his 143rd birth anniversary.

While ceremonies were held across the country, President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani were amongst those who gathered at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Raj Ghat to pay tribute.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Defence Minister A.K. Antony also paid floral tribute to the man who was instrumental in India's peaceful freedom struggle.

Mahatma Gandhi's favourite 'bhajans' like "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" and "Vaishnav Jana To" were played and an all-religion prayer conducted in memory of the father of the nation.

The birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti across the country. It is also marked as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Gandhi, born this day in 1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat, was assassinated Jan 30, 1948.