Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today urged his well-wishers to donate money in the PM's National Relief Fund instead of sending gifts to him on the occasion of Diwali.

"He has appealed to his well wishers to make donations to the Prime Minister`s National Relief Fund instead of sending gifts for him," a Prime Minister's Office statement said.

The prime minister's statement comes at a time when natural disasters have struck Uttarakhand, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in the last few months and large-scale rehabilitation and relief work is being carried out there.

The prime minister also conveyed his heartfelt thanks to all those who are sending him greetings and good wishes on the occasion of Diwali.