Thousands of people have taken part in events tomark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland’snational bard.
The celebrations were led by First Minister Alex Salmond.
It also marked the launch of a year-long programme of eventswhich the Scottish Government hopes will raise the country’s profile.
A procession took place in Dumfries and there were further events which took place in Alloway, Burns’ birthplace.
Sunday’s events began with Mr Salmond attending achurch service in Alloway, while Culture Minister Linda Fabiani and theDuke of Buccleuch took part in another commemorative event in Dumfries.
Mr Salmond later attended a wreath-laying ceremony at a statueof Burns in Ayr and then went on to the Dumfries lantern processionattended by thousands.
The first minister quoted from the poem on BBC Scotland’s The PoliticsShow – a quotation which ended with the phrase “the man of independentmind looks and laughs at all that”.
A number of events and exhibitions took place at various locations in Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The day also marked the start of the “Homecoming 2009″celebrations which will see more than 300 events being held across theScotland until St Andrew’s Day at the end of November.
The Scottish Government is asking “affinity” Scots around theworld to return home and join the celebrations with 100,000 touristsexpected and a £40m boost to the economy.