President, PM greet nation on Guru Nanak Jayanti

NEW DELHI - President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday greeted the nation on the eve of the birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.

The president, in her message, hoped that “the great Guru’s teachings of peace, harmony and compassion (would) guide us to follow them in our daily lives”.

Ansari, in his message, said that “Guru Nanak Devji has been an apostle of universal love, piety and spiritual faith. His divine teachings guide us on the path of social harmony and unity”.

“On this joyous occasion, let us pray that his ideals of humanism and social equality inspire us to move towards a peaceful and just society,” he said.

The prime minister said Guru Nanak’s life and message of brotherhood and equality of man remain relevant even today. By following his teachings, the world can overcome differences and work together to fight ignorance, poverty, hunger and disease, said Singh, a Sikh himself.

Guru Nanak Jayanti will be celebrated Sunday.