The skies were grey and the lawns still wet from the morning’s rain, but the mood was different at Monday’s ‘At Home’ hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee in the Mughal Gardens of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
As guests lined up to catch a glimpse of the chief guest, U.S. President Barack Obama, he and First Lady Michelle Obama sat chatting with other guests, shielded by a red canopy and their security.
Wearing a printed ivory dress, Ms. Obama was seated next to Vice-President Hamid Ansari, while Mr. Obama was seen conversing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Ansari’s wife, Salma.
There was some disappointment when security restrictions prevented the Obamas from stepping out of the VIP enclosure and greeting the crowds. However, the couple did take a minute to pose for the cameras, which did not stop clicking.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan had chosen the theme of ‘peace’ for this year’s At Home. A floral decoration, depicting two doves was laid out on the lawns in front of the VIP enclosure.
Mr. Mukherjee played the gracious host as he went around the guest enclosures, greeting people, accepting their wishes and fending off questions from the media. “No questions, only wishes,” he laughed as presspersons tried to gauge his view about the Obama visit.
Selfies again Mr. Modi, in a red jacket and an ivory shawl draped around his shoulders, stepped out to greet the visitors, who were made to stand in neatly demarcated enclosures owing to security concerns. He did, however, allow a few excited guests to take selfies.
Among those present in the VIP enclosure were Union Ministers, former President Shankar Dayal Sharma’s wife Vimla Sharma, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the Chief Ministers of Goa and Maharashtra and Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Arjan Singh, who was the Chief of the Air Staff from 1964 to 1969. Despite the heavy security and the substantially trimmed-down guest list, there were 1,400 invitees.
> OBAMA'S VISIT TO INDIA
- › DAY 1: JANUARY 25, 2015
- › Arrival in the morning and Rashtrapathi Bhavan Ceremonial
- › Rashtrapathi Bhavan Ceremonial
- › Homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat
- › Bilateral discussions with PM Narendra Modi, followed by a luncheon
- › Meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee
- › Banquet hosted by the President
- › DAY 2: JANUARY 26, 2015:
- › Republic Day function and Rashtrapathi Bhavan Ceremonial
- › 'At home' with Pranab Mukherjeeand a round table with CEOs
- › DAY 3: JANUARY 27, 2015:
- › To address a select gathering
- › Leaves for Saudi Arabia
Published - January 27, 2015 02:54 am IST
