Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and cultural welcome in Mauritius on Tuesday, as members of the Indian diaspora greeted him with the traditional Bihari Geet Gawai. PM Modi was seen clapping along and enjoying the Bhojpuri musical ensemble, which is a key part of Mauritius’ cultural heritage, brought by Indian women from the Bhojpuri belt.
Recognized for its cultural significance, Geet Gawai was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2016.
Upon arriving at his hotel in Port Louis, PM Modi was greeted by the enthusiastic chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and waving mini Indian flags. Several members of the Indian community expressed their excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister.
Divya, one of the attendees, shared, “I met PM Modi and had the chance to shake his hand. I am very happy to participate in such an event.” Saraswati added, “It feels amazing to meet our Prime Minister. The relations between India and Mauritius are excellent, and we hope they continue to grow.”
Preeti, another member of the diaspora, expressed her joy, saying, “It feels great to have the opportunity to speak to him.”
Official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, also shared the warm welcome on social media, writing, “Namaste Mauritius! PM Narendra Modi arrives in Mauritius to a warm and enthusiastic welcome! Special thanks to PM Dr. Navin Ramgoolam for welcoming him at the airport.”
During his visit, PM Modi will meet with Mauritius President Dharam Gokhool and PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam. He will also address a community programme and participate in various events, including the country’s 57th National Day Celebrations.
In a post on X, PM Modi expressed his gratitude, stating, “Landed in Mauritius. I am grateful to my friend, PM Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. This visit is a wonderful opportunity to engage with a valued friend and explore new avenues for collaboration.”
The Prime Minister’s visit will include discussions on expanding cooperation between India and Mauritius across various sectors.
