Mexico City, Feb 2 : Friends of India in Mexico, schoolchildren gathered at a monument here to mark the 65th death anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi as the strains of his favourite hymn "Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram", played on the sitar, filled the air.

The Embassy of India in collaboration with Ora World Mandala, an India-Mexico NGO which strives to promote the Gandhian value of ahimsa or non-violence, through art, organised a solemn function at the Gandhi monument in Chapultepec in Mexico City, said an official statement Saturday.

Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy placed a wreath at the monument.

A two-minute silence was observed by the gathering, which included Mexican friends of India, representatives of the City Government and the Miguel Hidalgo Delegacion, school children and other Gandhians in Mexico, said the statement.

Noted sitar player, Hollving Argaez, teacher at the Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Centre played Gandhi's favourite melody "Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram" on sitar to the accompaniment of the tabla by Ilyas Husain Khan, a teacher.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Chinoy said that Gandhiji's legacy, particularly the values of truth and non-violence, are today the shared patrimony of all mankind.

He called upon all in attendance to imbibe some of Mahatma Gandhi's teachings in their daily lives and strive to do their bit to create a better and more tolerant world.

The Mayor of Mexico City was represented by Cuauhtemoc Cardenas Solorzano.

Cardenas extolled the Gandhian value of ahimsa and its relevance to the world today, said the statement.

Jan 30 is observed as Martyr's Day to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary. (IANS)