President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted the nation on Sunday on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, noting that the festival spreads peace and harmony among people.

Mukherjee said the celebration of the festival that marks the birth of Lord Ganesh brings people from all walks of life together.

The 10-day Ganeshotsav festival begins on Monday.

“The large-scale public celebrations of this festival were successfully encouraged by the great freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak to galvanise support for India’s independence movement,” he said.

The president appealed to the people to resolve to renew the spirit and vision of the great leader (Tilak) and re-dedicate themselves to the country’s development and progress.

“May the festivities associated with Ganesh Chaturthi mark the beginning of fresh efforts towards building a new, just, strong and caring India where people live in happiness and harmony,” he said.

“Let us celebrate this festival by reaffirming our faith in all that is good, noble and virtuous and instilling in ourselves pride in the composite culture of India,” he added.

Manmohan Singh, too, in his message, focussed on the contribution of the festival in the freedom movement.

“This festival with a tradition rooted in the freedom struggle inspires us to reaffirm the cherished values of brotherhood, unity and secularism,” he said.

“Ganesh Chaturthi inspires us to dedicate ourselves to the larger cause of nation-building,” he added.

In his message, Ansari said: “On this joyous occasion, may Lord Ganesh bless us all with wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.”