Turkey is celebrating the Memorial Day of Kemal Ataturk. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a leader, state figure, reformation activist, and head of the national liberty movement, died 78 years ago on November 10, 1938.

The commemoration ceremonies are taking place across the country, but the center of attraction is the grand mausoleum complex, which also houses a museum.

Daily life stopped for two minutes, beginning at 9.05 a.m., local time, the time of Ataturk's death. Sirens wailed throughout Turkey, and people observed two minutes of silence.

Thousands of people Thursday flocked to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara to commemorate the founding father of the Republic of Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, the Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, Hulusi Akar, and other senior political figures also attended the commemoration ceremony at the mausoleum, known as Anitkabir, the Anadolu Agency reports.