With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first state visit to the United States scheduled from Tuesday, Indian-Americans in the US are preparing well ahead for a mega event filled with music and dance to celebrate the occasion. Nearly 25 cultural programmes are on the anvil, slated to portray the vibrant and diverse cultures of 15 Indian states, in a performance set to be staged at the historic Freedom Plaza near the White House from 10 am to 2 pm on Wednesday.
Around 160 artists from across geographical backgrounds will showcase cultures from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Over 7,000 Indian-Americans are expected to attend. "We grew up in a developing India, where pride, unity and patriotism were instilled in us as children. We remember our patriotic songs that filled us with so much pride while growing up. Now we have moved here, and this has become my 'karma bhumi'. It is a confluence of both these cultures that we are presenting today, and on this momentous occasion of India's Prime Minister visiting us, we are really proud of presenting this," Raghu Pantulla, a musician, was quoted by ANI.
"I have been privileged to coordinate a huge cultural program, on the occasion of the PM's visit to the US. We have around 25 different programs lined up, with participation from over 15 different cultural teams. These represent various states and cultures of India, bringing a glimpse of India's diverse and varied cultures, and indomitable unity in diversity, to the heart of DC," says Srinath.
Meetings with Indian diaspora have been prominent in Modi's international visits in the past. Recently in Australia, thousands of Indian origin had gathered to welcome India's PM.
"Narendra Modi is extremely popular as India's Prime Minister for the global Indian diaspora," said Bharat Barai, chairman of the Indian American Community Foundation. People who trace their roots to India and are now settled permanently in the US, account for nearly 4.5 million of the country's population.
India's PM will be visiting the US at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. A state dinner is being hosted on June 22, to mark the occasion. The PM's itinerary also includes an address to the Joint Session of the US Congress. This state visit is a significant boost for India-US relations. The visit is the highest level in terms of honour and respect, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
US Vice President Kamala Harris, along with Secretary of State Tony Blinken, will be hosting a luncheon for the PM on June 23. He will also address a 'by invitation' gathering of diaspora from across the US, in Washington.
According to officials, PM Modi will be the first leader to address the US Congress twice. He has last addressed the Congress during a previous visit in 2016.
PM to perform Yoga in New York
PM Modi will be performing Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of International Yoga Day on Wednesday. People from over 180 countries are scheduled to participate in the event. In the list of overseas successes, the UN proclamation of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, during the first year of PM Modi's first term in 2014, has been a notable highlight. Modi will lead the ninth annual International Yoga Day celebrations at the UN headquarters between 8 am and 9 am at its North Lawn.
"Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise, but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature," Prime Minister Modi had said.
This is the third state visit hosted by Biden, after French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.