President Pratibha Patil and Vice President M Hamid Ansari on Monday greeted people on the occasion of Janmashtami, which will be celebrated on Tuesday.

In her message, the President said the life and teachings of   Krishna had a universal message of doing our duty without thinking of reward.

“May this festival inspire all of us to follow the path of virtue and righteousness in thought, word and deed,’’ she said. Extending his “hearty greetings and good wishes,’’ Ansari said the festival reminded us of the birth, simplicity and heroic deeds of the young Lord Krishna “who is immortalised in our popular consciousness”.