President Droupadi Murmu’s recent state visit to Portugal marked a historic milestone, celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations with a series of high-level meetings, cultural tributes, and ceremonial honors.
Addressing the media, MEA Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal described the visit as a “historic and warm” occasion that underscored the strength of India-Portugal relations. The visit began with a grand ceremonial welcome at a city square in Lisbon, where President Murmu inspected a Guard of Honour and received a ceremonial Grand Salute.
As part of the tribute to Portuguese heritage, President Murmu paid floral homage to Luis Vaz de Camões, the national poet of Portugal, renowned for his epic “Os Lusíadas.”
Following the ceremonial reception, President Murmu held a tête-à-tête with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, followed by delegation-level talks. In a symbolic gesture to commemorate the golden jubilee of diplomatic ties, the two leaders jointly released commemorative stamps and later addressed the media.
In the evening, President Rebelo de Sousa hosted a state banquet at the Palacio da Ajuda in Murmu’s honour. A highlight of the event was a musical performance by Portuguese artist Rão Kyao, who played Vaishnava Jana To on the flute, a soulful nod to Indian culture.
During her stay, President Murmu also met Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro at the Palace of São Bento, where the two discussed avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation. Lal noted that Montenegro had previously met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 summit in Brazil, reinforcing the growing dialogue between the two governments.
On Tuesday, Murmu visited the Portuguese Parliament, where she was welcomed with a ceremonial Guard of Honour and held talks with the President of the Assembleia da República, Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco. She also toured the Assembly Hall and held broader discussions with members of the Portuguese delegation.
In addition, the President paid floral tribute at the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Alameda Mahatma Gandhi and offered prayers at the Radha-Krishna temple, reflecting India’s cultural footprint in Portugal. She signed the official book of honour and met with members of Aguiar-Branco’s cabinet.
President Murmu’s visit is the first by an Indian President to Portugal in 27 years, following President K. R. Narayanan’s visit in 1998. The current tour, which runs from April 7 to 10, includes visits to both Portugal and Slovakia, further strengthening India’s ties with Europe.
