Prime Minister Narendra Modi US Visit, Day 2 Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on his first State visit to the United States, addressed the US Congress at the Capitol Hill after a joint press briefing along with US President Joe Biden at the White House on June 22. Modi’s address to the US Congress grabbed headlines all over the globe as he got multiple standing ovations during his speech. The Prime Minister spoke on the need to end war, India’s economy and diversity, sustainable agriculture, women empowerment, terrorism and much more! Even the Capitol Hill was echoing with Modi chants.
In his joint press briefing with POTUS Joe Biden on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that there was no discrimination in his government’s policies on religious grounds and that it enforced the law equally, without bias. He said that democracy is India’s spirit and it runs in the country’s veins as he dismissed allegations of discrimination against religious minorities in India. The briefing was followed by the bilateral meeting that was held between Modi and Biden.
After the historic Capitol Hill address, a grand state dinner was organised by the Biden administration in honour of PM Modi. Several eminent personalities from the US and India attended the State dinner. From Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to Google boss Sundar Pichai to Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani to Anand Mahindra, the state dinner saw several dignitaries.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi received a grand ceremonial welcome at the White House where thousands were seen chanting his name in unison.
PM Modi in US Live Updates: Keep watching this corner for full coverage on PM Modi’s Washington DC visit:
#watch | Washington, DC | Members of the Indian diaspora gather outside the hotel where PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive and chant 'Bharat Mata ki jai'. pic.twitter.com/BFlKR9Mk3A
U.S. President Joe Biden and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver remarks and take questions on Thursday during the Indian leader's state visit, the White House said. (Reuters)
Important to move from practitioners to executors of Yoga: New York City Mayor Eric Adams
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/iPhVUPP2UW#yoga #yogaday #newyorkcity #ericadams #india #usa pic.twitter.com/3GIWCuPS5E
Chief Executive of General Atomics which makes Predator drones has said that PM Modi's US visit will really be historic, reported ANI. Defence talks are going to take center stage, as per multiple media reports.
Jill Biden is taking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a side trip to Virginia on Wednesday, a day before his formal state visit and fancy dinner at the White House.India's leader was arriving from New York, where earlier Wednesday he performed backbends and corpse poses during a yoga session with a multinational crowd on the lawn of the United Nations. President Joe Biden, who invited Modi on a state visit, has spent the past two days in California raising money for his reelection campaign and was due back in Washington later Wednesday.Despite deep differences with India over its record on human rights and its approach to Russia's war in Ukraine, Biden nevertheless extended to Modi the administration's third invitation for a state visit. With all the pomp and attention being paid to Modi, Biden hopes to firm up his relationship with the leader of a country the U.S. believes will be a pivotal force in Asia for decades to come. In a warmup of sorts to Thursday, the first lady arranged a visit Wednesday to the National Science Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia, for an event highlighting workforce training programs for Modi, who leads one of the world's largest democracies with an estimated 1.4 billion people. She typically takes the spouse of a visiting leader on an outing in the Washington area, but Modi was traveling alone.Afterward, the first lady was returning to the White House to unveil the decor and menu for Thursday's state dinner, which is being held in a temporary pavilion erected on the South Grounds of the White House. She enlisted help from a guest chef, Nina Curtis, who specializes in plant-based cooking, to work on the three dinner courses with the White House kitchen staff. Modi is a vegetarian.Violinist Joshua Bell will entertain guests after dinner. Jill Biden is a career community college teacher who has taken on a big role in helping her husband's administration promote “career-connected” learning as an alternative to four years of college. At the science foundation, the first lady and Modi will also meet students from the U.S. and India, and participate in a moderated conversation. (AP)
PM Modi has left for Washington DC. He will receive ceremonial welcome at White House on June 22.
#watch | Members of the Indian diaspora participate in a cultural event in Washington, DC as they await the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/OT7vyyeTC2
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken his flight for Washington, DC. He is on a State visit to the USA at the invitation of US President Joseph Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden.
#watch | The US | Cultural performances by the Indian diaspora in Washington, DC ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. pic.twitter.com/JXpFnRTS2s
#watch | USA: Members of the Indian diaspora perform 'Garba' outside the hotel in Washington DC, where PM Modi is scheduled to arrive today.
PM is on a State visit to the USA at the invitation of US President Joseph Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden. pic.twitter.com/vhvi7TlhR0
#internationaldayofyoga2023 | Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led the Yoga Day event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA pic.twitter.com/3WX4bcdnCP
A spirit of enthusiasm and celebration overflowed outside the UN headquarters here on Wednesday as people in large numbers attended a historic event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga. The overwhelming number of people of Indian origin mixed with a smattering of yoga enthusiasts of other nationalities formed a long queue outside the entrance amid tight security measures ahead of the event. As Modi joined the large crowd, including noted personalities from different walks of lives, on the North Lawn of the UN headquarters, a handful of pro-Khalistan activists and some opposed to the BJP's policies, faced off with a much bigger group of supporters of India's ruling party and the prime minister. Security officials kept a tight vigil as they raised slogans. (PTI)
Praising yoga as “truly universal,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi practiced it Wednesday with a multinational crowd at the United Nations, performing backbends and corpse poses as he kicked off the public portion of his U.S. visit by calmly flexing India’s cultural reach.With a checkerboard of made-in-India yoga mats covering the U.N. headquarters’ spacious north lawn, Modi stopped and bowed at a statue of the assassinated Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. Then, in brief remarks, Modi turned to the topic at hand, portraying yoga as an all-ages, portable practice accessible to all faiths and cultures. (AP)
#watch | New York, the US | "...In December 2014, it was under PM Modi's leadership and guidance, that 21st June was inscribed as #internationalyogaday. So, it was a matter of deep honour for us and the UN that the PM led us in doing Yoga. A record was also set that the maximum… pic.twitter.com/hwleZLYfk7
(Image: PTI)
(Image: AP/PTI)
The event honored the International Day of Yoga, which Modi persuaded the U.N. to designate in 2014 as an annual observance. This year's version set a Guinness World Record, announced on-scene, for most nationalities — 135 — at a yoga lesson and drew actor Richard Gere, New York Mayor Eric Adams, U.N. General Assembly President Csaba Korösi and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, among other dignitaries. (AP)
Denise Scotto, the moderator of Yoga Day at the UN HQ in New York told ANI, “We are having a wonderful day here…I am so honoured to be able to introduce PM Modi. India feels like it's my spiritual home along with Italy where my family is from…”
#watch | PM Narendra Modi interacts with children at the UN headquarters lawns in New York, where he led the #internationaldayofyoga event. pic.twitter.com/4W6eFn6sWm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs yoga with others during the 9th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UN headquarters. (Image: Screengrab/PTI)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations in New York on Wednesday and called on people “to join hands together to realize the goal of one earth, one family, one future.”
The United Nations in 2014 declared June 21 the International Day of Yoga, adopting a measure proposed by Modi. “Let us use the power of yoga, not only to be healthy, happy, but also to be kind to ourselves and to each other,” Modi told a gathering of yoga devotees seated on yellow mats on the north lawn of U.N. headquarters by New York's East River. (Reuters)
A record has been created at the UN lawns where 135 nationalities had assembled to practice Yoga along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Yoga session at the UN is now over. The session was short but seemed really peaceful with chants of mantras in the background and of course, the morning's breezy air.
#internationaldayofyoga2023 | Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the Yoga Day event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. pic.twitter.com/gXdnypjfYK
PM Modi leads Yoga Day event at UN Headquarters in New York
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/lQx2jjfK5Y#un #pmmodiusvisit #usa #india #yogaday pic.twitter.com/LDilwJzVda
PM Modi has taken his spot on the Yoga mat and is seen doing various Yoga poses as the instructor guides. The yoga instructor led the session by opening with chants.
Modi paying respects to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of Yoga session. (PTI photo)
PM Modi thanks people for coming in large numbers to attend 9th International Yoga Day event at UN headquarters. “I am told that almost every nationality is represented here today,” he said. He further added, “About nine years ago, right here at the UN, I had honour to propose celebrating International Day of Yoga on 21st June.”
“Namaskar. On this fine morning, we are gathered here at the UN, at the meeting point of the entire humanity, in this wonderful city of New York. I know many of you have come here from far away. I'm delighted to see you all and I thank you all for coming,” PM Modi says at the UN.
Mr. Eric Adams
American politician and former police officer, serving as the 110th mayor of New York City
H.E. Ms. Amina J.Mohammed
Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.
Mr. Richard Gere
Famous Hollywood actor; He is an advocate for human rights in Tibet; He is a co-founder of the Tibet House, US and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Campaign for Tibet.
Mr. Vala Afshar
He is Chief Digital Evangelist at Salesforce, and shares motivational stories / immigrant successes / tech in society stories.
Mr. Jay Shetty
Award-Winning Storyteller, Podcaster, and former monk
Mr. Vikas Khanna
Award winning Indian chef and restaurateur; Host of the TV Show MasterChef India.
Mr. Mike Hayes
COO, VM Ware (Cloud computing tech major) based in Silicon Valley. Highly Decorated former US Navy SEAL Commander, has served as a White House Fellow, and as Director, National Security Council.
Mr. Britt Kelly Slabinski
Highly decorated US Navy SEAL officer, has won several distinguished military honours for his services in Afghanistan and Iraq. Currently, Consultant at LeadWright Enterprise
Mr. Francisco D’Souza
Founder & CEO, Recognize (private equity). Son of IFS officer P.P. D'Souza; ex-CEO of Cognizant, now runs a venture capital fund in the US.
Ms. Colleen Saidman Yee
Celebrated Yoga teacher. New York Times christened her “The First Lady of Yoga.
Mr. Rodney Yee
Celebrated Yoga instructor,presently actively involved into integrating Yoga with Western medical paradigm. He has written two books, “Yoga: the Poetry of the Body” and “Moving Toward Balance: 8 Weeks of Yoga with Rodney Yee”
Ms. Deidra Demens
She runs a popular Yoga studio in New York City. She combines Yoga with theatre.
Mr. Christopher Tompkins
He is a scholar of South and Southeast Asian Studies at Berkeley University, California, with an emphasis on the roots and evolution of Yoga in the tradition of Tantrik Śaivism
Ms. Victoria Gibbs
Celebrated Yoga teacher and meditation coach. She is a 3-time New York regional champion of Yoga.
Ms. Jahnavi Harrison
Also known by her spiritual name, Jahnavi Jivana dasi, is a British musician. Known for her mantra meditation music (kirtan). She regularly appears as a presenter on BBC Radio.
Mr. Kenneth Lee
Community Health Chaplain at University Hospital, Newark, New Jersey. He is the husband of Ms. Jahnavi Harrison.
Mr. Travis Mills
Travis Mills is a war veteran who lost all four limbs in Afghanistan; He promotes yoga, meditation, and wellness to overcome adversity
Mr. Jeffrey D Long
Professor of religion and Asian studies at Elizabethtown College,
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania,
Ms. Seema Mody
She is currently global markets reporter for CNBC with focus on foreign policy and Wall Street.
Ms. Zain Asher
Prime Time news anchor at CNN popularly known for global news show ‘One World with Zain Asher’ .
Mr. Ricky Kej
Three-times Grammy Award-winning, three-times Grammy
nominated Indian music composer and environmentalist.
Ms. Falguni Shah
American singer whose music blends ancient classical Indian
melodies with contemporary western sounds
Ms. Mary Millben
American singer and actress.
The function will also be attended by personalities and influencers from all walks of life including Diplomats, Officials, Academicians, Health professionals, Technocrats, Industry leaders, Media personalities, Artists, Spiritual leaders, Yoga practitioners, among others. People from more than 180 countries will be joining the PM for Yoga Day programme.
#watch | PM Narendra Modi at the UN Headquarters lawns in New York, to lead the Yoga event on the occasion of #9thinternationalyogaday pic.twitter.com/1kwsr6OnJq