U.S., Jan. 15 -- The Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD) will celebrate January 30 as Rural Tourism Day.

It was on this date that Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. Since last year, the trust observes the day to promote rural tourism. The father of the nation was keen on rural development.

Gandhi said: "The real India lies in the 7,00,000 villages. If Indian civilization is to make its full contribution to the building up of a stable world order, it is this vast mass of humanity that has..to be made to live again."

This year, the focus of rural tourism will be on two areas - Barner in Rajasthan and one in Madhya Pradesh. Here, efforts are being made to highlight the often neglected and dying arts.

Presentations will ...