NEW DELHI - As India celebrated 140 years Friday since the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, hundreds of children and adults flocked to various sites associated with him to remember the man whose message of non-violence and peace is still relevant — even in these frenetic times.

For the not-so-young, this was a day of solemn introspection perhaps, and for the young, a chance to get a closer glimpse into the man they have read about in textbooks.

Yash Vaghela, 11, couldn’t contain his excitement when he saw a Parker pen used by the father of the nation.

I also use a Parker pen and he also used it. I am going to tell all my friends that Gandhiji used the same pen. Wow, I will be popular, said Vaghela as he went around the Gandhi Museum, near the Gandhi memorial Rajghat where VVIPs and common people came in droves to pay homage to the apostle of peace.

The museum, which has five galleries, showcases a range of Gandhi memorabilia — his notebook, letters, spectacles, the utensils he used as well as the clothes he was wearing when he was assassinated on Jan 30, 1948. The bullet that was used is also on display.

Vaghela, a Class 6 student of Mayo International, a resident of Noida, had come with his parents, neighbours and friends to the Gandhi memorial complex on the Ring Road in central Delhi.

I have come here for the first time. My parents told me that it is Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday and we are celebrating it. We have read about him, but not much, Vaghela told IANS.

His friend Daniel Abhishek said they had read about Gandhi leading a peaceful struggle for India’s freedom. But after seeing all this, we realised we actually did not know much. I am happy I came here.

And saying this, both friends went around clicking photographs on their mobile phones.

Even as the children chatted loudly about the Mahatma, 44-year-old Murali Khanna took notes.

I had come here 10 years ago. This is my second visit. I am a Gandhian and I believe in peace and harmony, he said.

When asked what he was writing, the businessmen, who runs a handicraft store in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, just smiled.

“I am going to spread the message of Gandhiji to the people I will come in contact with. Someone has to carry his message forward. Even today, he is so relevant.”

Toledo, who did not give his second name and had come all the way from Spain to pay homage, said Gandhi was one of the greatest figures of history.

“When I think of Gandhi, I think of freedom and peace. He is a great historical figure… But very few individuals know about him,” he added.

Kiran Saini, who acts as a guide at the museum, said children showed maximum interest in Gandhi and his teachings.

Museum manager Bhaswati Ray Choudhari said about 200 visitors come every day. This goes up to 800 people on days like Gandhi’s birth and death anniversaries.

There were some who said Gandhi’s message had been forgotten.

Like Murali Srivastava, the managing director of an automobile company, who said: “He has just become a face on the wall. No one believes in his teachings or philosophy.”