IndiaTheNews NewsRoom: Biden welcomes Modi grandly, PM gives priceless gifts to US President, know dinner menu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a grand welcome in Washington on reaching the US on a state visit. After the reception at the airport, when the Prime Minister reached his hotel, the Indian Americans there welcomed the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Modi also started meeting American industrialists immediately after reaching Washington to attract more and more investment in India. This was followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and First Lady of the United States of America Jill Biden visiting the National Science Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia. During this, Indian Ambassador to America Taranjit Singh Sandhu and American Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti were also present with him.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister said that I am very happy that I have got the opportunity to connect with so many young and creative people as soon as I came here. He said that Jill Biden organized this event despite being so busy, I am grateful for it. The Prime Minister said that it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure a better future for our present and future generations, education, schemes, innovation are necessary for this bright future and in India we have made many efforts in this direction.

Important gifts given by Modi

After this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington DC. Joe Biden arrived with his wife to receive the Prime Minister as soon as he reached the White House. During this, both the leaders met each other with great warmth. Holding hands, Biden took Modi to the White House where after initial talks, the Prime Minister handed over gifts from India to the US President and his wife.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a 7.5-carat lab-grown green diamond to Jill Biden. Apart from this, the box gifted by Prime Minister Modi to US President Joe Biden also contains a 99.5% pure and hallmarked silver coin which has been aesthetically crafted by artisans from Rajasthan and is being presented as Raupyadan (donation of silver) has been introduced. In this lavan or salt of Gujarat has been offered for lavandan (donation of salt). The box gifted by Prime Minister Modi to US President Joe Biden contains ten donations – a delicate handmade silver coconut by skilled artisans from West Bengal in place of a cow for Gaudan (cow donation). A fragrant piece of sandalwood obtained from Mysore, Karnataka is given in place of the land for Bhoodan (donation of land). Sesame or white sesame seeds brought from Tamil Nadu are offered for Tildaan (donation of sesame seeds). Handcrafted in Rajasthan, this 24K pure and hallmarked gold coin is presented as Hiranya Daan (Gold Donation).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented US President Joe Biden a special sandalwood box, handcrafted by a master craftsman from Jaipur. It has intricately carved flora and fauna patterns in sandalwood sourced from Mysore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also gifted a copy of the first edition of the book ‘The Ten Principal Upanishads’, published by Faber & Faber Ltd., London and printed at University Press Glasgow, to President Joe Biden.

In addition, US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden presented PM Modi a handmade, antique American book galley from the early 20th century. President Biden also gifted PM Modi a vintage American camera, along with an archival facsimile print of George Eastman’s first Kodak camera patent and a hardcover book on American wildlife photography. Jill Biden also gifted PM Modi a signed, first edition copy of ‘Collected Poems of Robert Frost’.

According to the White House, the President, the First Lady and the Prime Minister also enjoyed music dedicated to India during their conversation following the Prime Minister’s arrival. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval were also present on the occasion. Prime Minister Modi later tweeted, “I thank President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for hosting me at the White House today.” We talked on many topics. Let us tell you that the Biden couple will host a state dinner for Prime Minister Modi on the South Lawn of the White House, which is expected to be attended by 400 guests. Prime Minister Modi will also address the joint session of the US Congress today.

grand welcome of prime minister

Let us also tell you that Modi reached Washington from New York on Wednesday. Where he was given a ‘guard of honour’ amid incessant rain. The Prime Minister, wearing a raincoat, stood for the national anthems of both the countries. From the airport, Modi walked to the hotel where members of the Indian diaspora were waiting for him. Indian diaspora was also present in the pouring rain to welcome Modi at Freedom Plaza in Washington. Some members of the community organized cultural programs including garba and other folk dances outside the hotel in Washington DC. Some diaspora members in colorful outfits were carrying Indian flags and raising slogans of ‘Modi-Modi’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. Modi briefly interacted with enthusiastic supporters at the hotel and signed autographs for some of them.

prime minister’s dinner menu

Meanwhile, America’s First Lady Jill Biden previewed the ‘menu’ of the dinner to be given to the Prime Minister, saying, “We are celebrating the families and friendships that are located around the world and that are between the two countries.” Marinated millet, corn salad and stuffed mushrooms are on the menu for 400 guests invited to a White House dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jill Biden revealed that Prime Minister Modi is a vegetarian, so she has asked chef Nina Curtis, who specializes in vegetarian cuisine, to work with the White House staff and prepare a scrumptious vegetarian ‘menu’. However, an option of fish has also been kept in the food for the guests, he added. The first lady said the guests would move to the South Lawn, where each table would be set with flowers in green and saffron, the colors of the Indian flag. He said, “There will be every grand and special arrangement. We hope that the guest will also be able to feel that the table is specially set for them. Grammy Award winner Joshua Bell will perform after the dinner. Jill Biden said that after her performance, the University of Pennsylvania group ‘Pen Masala’ will perform songs inspired by Indian music. Marinated millet, grilled corn salad, watermelon and a tangy avocado sauce will be served as the first entrée to the state dinner. Main meals include stuffed portobello mushrooms and a creamy saffron-infused risotto. Sweets include rose and cardamom strawberry shortcake and other treats. “It’s been a real pleasure to work with the First Lady and understand her culinary skills and create dishes that resonate with her… We’ve created a ‘menu’ that truly reflects American cuisine,” said Chef Curtis from California. The chef added, “We are excited that India is leading the effort to celebrate the International Year of Whole Grains. We have added marinated millet and elements associated with Indian cuisine to our ‘menu’.

US NSA statement

Meanwhile, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said in a significant statement that US President Joe Biden may raise America’s concerns about human rights during his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but he will not focus on the issue. Will not give any “advice” to them. In fact, a group of US lawmakers wrote a letter to Biden urging him to raise “issues of concern” with Modi and discuss all the issues necessary to make a strong and long-term relationship between the two countries successful. This statement of Sullivan has come to the fore.