Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday began his "Gandhi Smriti Yatra" in Champaran district to mark the 100th year of Mahatma Gandhi's first major satyagraha against the British rule.

"Nitish Kumar along with Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, other ministers and thousands of local residents walked a stretch of seven km from Chandriya (village) to Motihari (district headquarters of east Champaran)," a district official said.

The Yatra would be followed by a series of programmes, the official added.

Various other functions have already started last week on a large scale to mark the centenary year.

President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday honoured freedom fighters from across the country to mark the ongoing year-long celebrations of the Champaran satyagraha.  

Mahatma Gandhi launched his satyagraha -- nonviolent agitation -- against the forced cultivation of indigo by British rulers in Champaran district on April 10, 1917.