In a deeply symbolic gesture during his historic visit to Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar with a replica of the Ram Mandir and holy water from the Mahakumbh — collected from the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarayu rivers.
Addressing the Indian diaspora in Port of Spain, PM Modi highlighted the shared spiritual and ancestral bonds between India and the Caribbean nation, praising the contributions of the Indian-origin community and recalling Persad-Bissessar’s ancestral ties to Bihar.
“Kamla ji’s ancestors lived in Buxar, Bihar. She has visited there, and people consider her a daughter of Bihar,” PM Modi said. He requested her to offer the gifted waters from the Sarayu and Mahakumbh to the Ganga Dhara in Trinidad and Tobago as a mark of civilisational and cultural connection.
“You all know that earlier this year, the world’s largest spiritual gathering, the Mahakumbh, took place. I have the honour to carry that holy water with me,” he said.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who had visited her ancestral village of Bhelupur in 2012, joined PM Modi at the community event, which celebrated the strong historical and cultural links between the two countries.
PM Modi’s visit marks the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Trinidad and Tobago since 1999. Upon arrival, he was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Piarco International Airport and welcomed by Persad-Bissessar, 38 ministers, and four Members of Parliament.
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that 45% of Trinidad and Tobago’s population is of Indian origin, with most tracing their roots to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, particularly Bhojpuri-speaking regions like Chhapra, Ara, Ballia, Siwan, and Azamgarh.
“This is a historic visit after 26 years. The bonds between India and Trinidad and Tobago are both deep and enduring,” Jaiswal said.
