President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and NAC Chairperson Sonia Gandhi greeted the people on the occasion of Diwali.

In her message, Patil said Diwali, the festival of lights, is a celebration of the victory of good over evil.

“May the festival bring happiness and prosperity to all our people and illuminate their lives with lights of hope for a better tomorrow,” Ms Patil said.

Ansari said Diwali, which is celebrated throughout the country in a mood of festivity and gaiety, symbolises the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness, of truth over untruth.

“May the noble ideals of the festival prevail and usher in peace, prosperity and happiness in our lives.”

The Prime Minister said it is significant that the festival is celebrated by people from diverse faiths and called it an affirmation of the great secular traditions of India.

“On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I send my warm greetings to all my countrymen. May this joyous festival of lights usher in prosperity, peace, harmony and progress all over our country,” Gandhi, the Congress President, said in a message.