New Delhi, Nov. 7 -- President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday congratulated all citizens on the 151 years of the composition of the national song 'Vande Mataram' and said it symbolises our national identity, self-respect and devotion to the motherland.

"I hope that our fellow citizens will embrace the spirit of nation first embodied in 'Vande Mataram' and contribute to nation-building," she said in a post on X in Hindi.

The national song was written by Bengali novelist and poet Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on the occasion of Akshaya Navami, which fell on November 7 in 1875.

"On the completion of 151 years since the composition of the national song 'Vande Mataram', I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all fellow citizens. During the freed...