New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) US President Barack Obama, who was accorded a ceremonial red carpet welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan Sunday, said it's "a great honour" to be back in India.
"It's a great honour to be back in India. I am grateful for the extraordinary hospitality," Obama told reporters in the forecourt of the magnificent presidential palace where he was escorted by Wing Commander Puja Thakur as he inspected the tri-service guard of honour.
President's Bodyguard's mounted troops earlier escorted the US presidential motorcade that rolled in at 12.15 p.m. through the iron gates of the impressive presidential palace.
The 21-gun salute sounded as horses escorted The Beast - carrying the US president - down the path leading to the forecourt.
He was received by President Pranab Mukherjee dressed in a black bandgala suit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had changed into a light striped black bandgala suit from his morning attire of light cream-coloured kurta pyjama with beige Nehru jacket paired with a red shawl.
Obama chatted and laughed with Mukherjee and Modi before proceeding to a podium for the ceremonial welcome.
Obama, who is the first US president to be chief guest at India's Republic Day parade, walked along the red carpet to stand on a podium, covered by a red canvas top with gold trim.
The military band stretched in ranks before him as the national anthems of India and the US were played.
He then inspected the tri-service guard of honour.
Obama was introduced to union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Manohar Parrikar, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Nejeeb Jung, and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha.
Once again Obama exchanged pleasantries and warmly shook hands with Mukherjee and Modi.
He folded his hands together to say 'Namaste', the traditional Indian way of greeting, as he left for Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.
New priests have been put on duty in Ram Mandir. Many tough rules have also been made for the pri
Team India, captained by Rohit Sharma, is going to take the field once again just three days afte
There is a ban on giving petrol and diesel to vehicles that have completed their age in the capit
Many jobs will be done now, Twitter stirred up by the decree of new boss Elon Musk
Elon Musk has hinted at layoffs just days after he took ownership of the social media platform Tw
JKBOSE Class 10th Result 2023 OUT: Jammu and Kashmir Board of Secondary Education (JKBOSE) has de
The girl who slipped from scooty, accused innocent boy, of what to do if false FIR is registered?
A video is becoming quite viral on social media. In which a person is driving a scooty and a woma
Police attack case: Hearing on Arnab Goswami's anticipatory bail plea today
Mumbai's sessions court will hear the anticipatory bail pleas in the case lodged against Arnab Go
Vedanta's Big Energy Bet: Anil Agarwal Targets 5 Lakh Barrels of Daily Oil & Gas Production
Billionaire Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta has reaffirmed its ambitious plan to produce 500,000 barrels
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy have made it to the UK's 'Asian
The demolition of two hotels in Uttarakhand's Joshimath was stopped on Tuesday after protests by
