New Delhi, Aug 20 - President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders paid homage to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 65th birth anniversary Thursday, joining his widow and Congress president Sonia, their son Rahul, daughter Priyanka and son-in-law Robert Vadra at Rajiv Gandhi's memorial Veer Bhumi here.

Hymns from all religions were sung at the memorial in his remembrance. Amongst those present on the occasion was Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar.

Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary is celebrated as Sadbhavna Diwas (harmony day) and Akshay Urja Diwas (energy day) in the country.

Sources said Sonia Gandhi will distribute wheelchairs to the physically challenged later in the day and Rahul will set off for Chhattisgarh, where he will celebrate his father's birth anniversary with tribals.

At a function, the ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Act will be re-christened after Rajiv Gandhi.