Seychelles: Indian diaspora greets PM Modi upon arrival at hotel in Victoria
Victoria, June 27
In a vibrant display of affection, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a warm and enthusiastic welcome by members of the Indian diaspora upon his arrival at the hotel in Victoria, Seychelles.
The hotel reception capped a busy initial itinerary, as Prime Minister Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie had earlier visited the National Botanical Garden of Seychelles in Victoria, shortly after the Prime Minister commenced his official State Visit to the archipelagic nation.
During the visit to the sanctuary, Prime Minister Modi was seen enthusiastically feeding large turtles, including the famed 194-year-old Jonathan, recognised as the world's oldest living land animal.
The two leaders also planted a commemorative sapling within the premises and interacted closely with the conservatory staff, who briefed the visiting dignitaries on the unique flora and fauna of the sanctuary.
The Prime Minister arrived in the capital city on Saturday afternoon on a three-day visit to the island country. In a boost to bilateral cooperation, PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the country's National Day, marking 50 years since Seychelles gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1976.
This high-profile visit began at the airport, where, in a special gesture reflecting the deep diplomatic bonds between the two democracies, President Patrick Herminie, alongside several top cabinet ministers and senior officials, personally received Prime Minister Modi at the tarmac.
The arrival reception featured vibrant cultural performances, including a traditional dance from the Kutch region of Gujarat.
Reflecting on the cultural presentation, the Prime Minister took to social media platform X to post, "Amazing cultural connect! The welcome at the airport in Seychelles included a dance from Kutch. The manner in which our diaspora has preserved and celebrated culture from different parts of India is appreciable."
Prime Minister Modi also uploaded glimpses of the enthusiastic reception on X, expressing his gratitude to the Indian diaspora for their immense warmth and affection.
Acknowledging the official welcome immediately after touchdown, the Prime Minister shared his optimism for the trip, posting on X, "Landed in Seychelles. Deeply appreciate the warm welcome extended at the airport by Dr. Patrick Herminie. Seychelles is a valued maritime partner and a close friend in the Indian Ocean. Looking forward to a productive visit aimed at further strengthening our longstanding ties and enhancing cooperation for the benefit of the people of our nations."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Feeding the 194-year-old tortoise Jonathan must have been a surreal experience! 😄 That's older than India's independence itself. But honestly, I hope this visit goes beyond photo ops and leads to real benefits for Indian fishermen in the Indian Ocean region.
As someone from the US, I find it fascinating how India maintains such close ties with small island nations like Seychelles. The cultural diplomacy through dance and planting saplings is a heartwarming approach, even if the underlying strategic interests in the Indian Ocean are clear.
The Prime Minister being Guest of Honour at their 50th independence celebrations is a big deal! 🇮🇳🤝🇸🇨 Shows how far India's diplomatic reach has come. Though I wish domestic issues got as much attention as these foreign visits sometimes.
The botanical garden visit sounds lovely - feeding giant tortoises and planting saplings together is such a symbolic gesture for environmental cooperation. Really hope this translates into concrete marine conservation efforts between the two countries.
President Herminie personally receiving PM Modi at the tarmac shows the respect India commands now. And the diaspora preserving our Kutch dance after generations? That's the real victory - our culture staying alive wherever we go. Jai Ho! 🙏
N Nikhil C