The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has greeted the nation on Basant Panchmi.

In a message, the Prime Minister said that the festival marks the arrival of spring. It is an occasion to celebrate nature's bounty and welcome a season of prosperity and happiness, he added.

Dr. Singh expressed the hope that the colours of 'Basant' would spread joy and inspire the nation to move further on the path of progress.