“We were thrilled about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to our country. We had prepared something truly special for him, an endeavor where Greek women participated in the Indian diaspora, extending a warm welcome to our Prime Minister. Our aim was to promote Indian classical dance forms, culture, and Indian festivals.”
— Suman Rudra, Choreographer
In a noteworthy event that took place during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Greece, Greek and Indian students in Athens enthusiastically showcased their talents at an Indian diaspora event. PM Modi embarked on this historic journey at the gracious invitation of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Greece in four decades.
Choreographer Suman Rudra expressed excitement, stating, “We were thrilled about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to our country. We had prepared something truly special for him, an endeavor where Greek women participated in the Indian diaspora, extending a warm welcome to our Prime Minister. Our aim was to promote Indian classical dance forms, culture, and Indian festivals.”
Anna Dimitratou, the director of Greece’s inaugural Bollywood dance academy, added a vibrant touch to the event by performing the popular song ‘Bole Chudiyan’ from the Bollywood movie “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.”
“It was heartwarming to hear that PM Modi was visiting our country. His role in opening the Kartarpur Corridor to Pakistan was truly commendable. We were all set to welcome him with a lively ‘Bhangra’ dance.”
— Daljeet Singh, A Resident of Greece for the past three decades
One of the talented students from the Bollywood dance academy, who had the honor of performing in front of PM Modi during his visit to Athens, Greece, shared their enthusiasm, stating, “We were truly excited as this marked his first visit to Greece. It was a great honor for us. Having lived here for six years, I have dedicated myself to mastering the Indian dance form, Bharatanatyam.”
Meanwhile, the Indian Diaspora in Athens, Greece, couldn’t contain their excitement and joy over PM Modi’s momentous visit to their country.
Managing Director of Startup Greece Organization, Thanos Paraschos, emphasized the significance of leaders like PM Modi, saying, “I am here to extend a warm welcome to PM Modi in Greece. Over the past nine years, we’ve witnessed remarkable technological advancements that India has contributed to the world. Yesterday was a momentous day for humanity as we witnessed the achievements of India’s space technology. We are immensely proud and honored to host PM Modi in our country. It is imperative for us to have leaders like PM Modi, and India and Greece should collaborate to foster strong ties and contribute to making the world a better place.”
Daljeet Singh, a resident of Greece for the past three decades, shared his sentiments, stating, “It was heartwarming to hear that PM Modi was visiting our country. His role in opening the Kartarpur Corridor to Pakistan was truly commendable. We were all set to welcome him with a lively ‘Bhangra’ dance.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Greece took place on August 25. Prior to this, PM Modi had departed from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he had been attending the BRICS summit.
During his visit to Greece, PM Modi received a grand ceremonial reception upon arrival and engaged in productive meetings with the Greek President and Prime Minister. He held crucial discussions with his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, focusing on avenues to deepen the bilateral ties between the two nations. Furthermore, PM Modi interacted with prominent business leaders from both India and Greece and had an engaging session with the Indian community residing in Greece.
As part of the visit’s itinerary, a business luncheon, hosted by the Greek Prime Minister, was organized. Additionally, PM Modi paid his respects by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens and connected with the Indian community residing there.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a press release, stating, “Following his visit to South Africa, Prime Minister paid an official visit to Greece on 25th August 2023 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece. This visit marked the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Greece in four decades.”
The release further emphasized the enduring civilizational ties between India and Greece, which have been bolstered in recent years through collaboration in various domains, including maritime transport, defense, trade and investments, and people-to-people exchanges.
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