Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The couple hosted the prime minister for an intimate dinner for which, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval were present.
Gifts were of course exchanged at the event-- Modi presented Biden a copy of the first edition print of the book, ‘The Ten Principal Upanishads’ published by Faber and Faber Ltd of London. The translated work, published in 1937 and co-authored by Shri Purohit Swami and WB Yeats was one of the final works of Yeats.
He also gifted Biden a special sandalwood box with intricately carved flora and fauna patterns handcrafted by a master craftsman from Jaipur, Rajasthan and made from sandalwood sourced from Mysore, Karnataka. In the box is a silver idol of Lord Ganesh and a diya or an oil lamp, handcrafted by the artisans from the family of fifth-generation silversmiths in Kolkata, West Bengal.
The box also contained das danams or donations of ten different kinds--Gaudaan (cow), Bhudaan (land), Tildaan (sesame seeds), Hiranyadaan (gold), Ajyadaan (ghee or clarified butter), Dhaanyadaan (food grains), Vastradaan (clothes), Guddaan (jaggery), Raupyadaan (silver) and Lavandaan (salt)-- during 'Sahasra Poorna Chandrodayam' celebrations. He also gifted Jill Biden, a 7.5-carat green diamond. The diamond symbolises responsible luxury as solar and wind power were used in its making. It also symbolises India’s 75 years of freedom and sustainable International relations. The diamond was contained in a Papier mache, box, known as kar-e-kalamdani, Kashmir’s exquisite Papier mâché involves sakthsazior meticulous preparation of paper pulp and naqqashi, where skilled artisans paint elaborate designs.
The Bidens, in turn, gifted Modi a handmade, antique American book galley from the early 20th Century along with a vintage American camera, accompanied by an archival facsimile print of George Eastman’s Patent of the first Kodak camera, a hardcover book on American wildlife photography, and a signed, first edition copy of 'Collected Poems of Robert Frost'. On Thursday night, the Bidens will host him again, for a state dinner. It is expected to be attended by 400 guests.
The theme of the dinner will be inspired by India's national bird peacock and will feature décor inspired by the tricolour. Bearing in mind that PM Modi is a vegetarian, a plant-based fare will be on the menu. Chef Nancy Curtis, who specialises in plant-based cuisine has been roped in by Jill Biden to work with the staff at the White House. While the menu will mainly be vegetarian, guests will have the option to add fish to their main course.
Here are some of the dishes that will be served: marinated millet, grilled corn kernel salad, compressed watermelon and tangy avocado sauce. Other dishes include stuffed portobello mushrooms, creamy saffron-infused risotto, sumac roasted sea bass, lemon-dill yoghurt sauce, crisped millet cakes and summer squashes.
According to an AP report, food will be delivered to the guests in trolleys. Lotus flowers will be incorporated throughout and the dinner will be candlelit, reflecting the first lady’s love of candles.
After dinner, guests will enjoy music by American violinist Joshua Bell; Penn Masala, a South Asian a cappella group founded by students at the University of Pennsylvania; and the U.S. Marine Band Chamber Orchestra. They will exit the grounds by walking across a lawn illuminated by hundreds of glowing lanterns.