The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will begin from Monday. The event will start on January 21 and continue till January 23 in Varanasi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the event on Tuesday and President Ram Nath Kovind speaking at the closing ceremony on Wednesday. Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, who is on a week-long India visit, will be the chief guest in this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD).

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Speaking ahead of the event External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "on the 22nd evening there will be a programme on Ganga by Hema Malini."

On January 24 the participants will be taken to Prayagraj to attend Kumbh Mela and on January 25 to Delhi for sightseeing. The participants will also get to witness the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath on January 26.

Provisions have been made by Uttar Pradesh government for the participating diaspora members to get a taste of Indian hospitality in the houses of people of Varanasi. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Under Varanasi Aatithya and to give the diaspora members the feel of Indian hospitality, families in Varanasi have opened their doors. PM wanted this and to facilitate this, people have registered and we have selected families were NRIs can stay."

On the first day, Youth PBD will take place in which chief guests will be Himanshu Gulati, Member of Parliament in Norway and Kamaljeet Bakshi, Member of Parliament from New Zealand Kamaljeet Bakshi. 30 people will be honoured by the President with Pravasi Samman award on the last day.

The decision for the PBD celebration was taken by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the first PBD took place under his leadership from January 9 to 11, 2003. To honour him, the auditorium in which PBD 2019 will take place has been named after him and an exhibition is also being organised to remember him.

WHAT’S IN STORE

  • On January 24 the participants will be taken to Prayagraj to attend Kumbh Mela and on January 25 to Delhi for sightseeing  
  • Provisions have been made by Uttar Pradesh government for the participating diaspora members to get a taste of Indian hospitality in the houses of people of Varanasi