Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations begin; President Kovind and PM greet nation

Modi also took to Twitter and said: "Greetings on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi."

New Delhi: As the 10-day long celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi began on Thursday, people in Maharashtra and across the country welcomed bappa to their homes with open arms.   As the festivities began, President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the country on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. "Ganpati Bappa Morya! Greetings and good wishes to my fellow citizens on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. May Lord Ganesh guide us all towards a path of progress, peace, happiness and prosperity," the President tweeted. Modi also took to Twitter and said: "Greetings on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi." Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, this is a 10-day Hindu festival that reveres Lord Ganesha. The festival is celebrated with a lot of fervor among the celebrities as well. Film star Shilp Shetty along with husband Raj Kundra welcomed Ganjpati to her residence on Thursday morning.

Greetings on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

सभी देशवासियों को गणेश चतुर्थी के पावन पर्व की शुभकामनाएं। pic.twitter.com/UupNvwOpMf — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 13, 2018

Also, Mukhesh Ambani’s younger son also got ganpati home.

गणपति बप्पा मौर्या! गणेश चतुर्थी के शुभ अवसर पर मैं सभी देशवासियों और विदेश में बसे भारतवंशियों को बधाई और शुभकामनाएं देता हूं। मेरी कामना है कि भगवान गणेश के आशीर्वाद से सभी को प्रगति, शांति, खुशहाली और समृद्धि प्राप्त हो - राष्ट्रपति कोविन्द

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 13, 2018

The idol of Lord Ganesha is immersed in water (known as visarjan) on the last day with a lot of celebration, as people put colours on each other and play drums.