Jawaharlal Nehru remembered on his 123rd birth anniversary

New Delhi: The nation today fondly remembered the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 123rd birth anniversary with President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari leading the country in paying homage to him.

Pranab Mukherjee, Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paid floral tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru at Shanti Van, his memorial on the banks of Yamuna in New Delhi this morning amid chants of hymns and patriotic songs.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers Salman Khurshid and Kamal Nath and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were among the prominent persons who paid floral tributes at the memorial.

At the end of the ceremony, the dignitaries released tricolour balloons in the air as student bands performed.

Jawaharlal Nehru was born to Motilal Nehru and Swaroop Rani on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and his birthday is celebrated as Children's Day in India as he was fond of children.