Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan on Monday expressed hope that the Deepavali celebration this year will continue making Malaysians more grateful of the development and progress in the country.

"Hopefully we will continue to live in a peaceful and united environment towards maintaining the harmony and prosperity of life in a multi-racial nation.

"Let us strive for excellence to bring our nation to greater heights," he said in his Deepavali message here on Monday.

Mohamad also wished Happy Deepavali to all Hindus celebrating the festival of lights tomorrow and advised them to visit their friends and neighbours to foster closer ties as citizens of Malaysia.