KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has wished happiness, peace and prosperity to all the Nepali sisters and brothers within the country and abroad on the happy occasion of the greatest festival of the Nepalis, Bada Dashain.

In a message on the occasion of the Vijaya Dashami aka Bada Dashain today, President Bhandari has stated that our festivals, which symbolize the unity in diversity and the nation as the common garden of all castes and creeds, have made a significant contribution to uniting the geographical, religious, racial, cultural and linguistic diversity and maintaining social amity, national unity and the common Nepali identity.

"The unique customs and traditions of the peoples of different castes and ethnicities, communities, geographies and religious beliefs remain as the unparalleled treasures and cultural pillars of tolerance," the President said in her message.

The President has also wished that may the Vijaya Dashami festival become successful in strengthening the national unity and maintaining social harmony as well as brotherhood by opening the door to equal opportunity to all the Nepalis of different castes and ethnicities, races, speaking different languages and holding various religious beliefs who carry various social and cultural identities, and who are living in the mountains, hills and the Tarai/Madhes from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west.

The Head of the State also extended best wishes that may the goddess Durga Bhawani, who epitomises power, bless all the Nepali sisters and brothers to eagerly participate in the two elections to the House of Representatives and the State Assembliesgoing to be held on November 26 and December 7, 2017 and orient themselves to exercising the franchise.