Over 5,000 people will participate in this year's Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) -- the Indian diaspora conclave to be held in Varanasi from January 21 to 23, Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh said on Friday.

Briefing the media here, Singh said while in the last PBD held in Bengaluru in 2016 only 500 people had registered till the time of a media briefing like the one on Friday, this time over 5,000 people have already registered for the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the conclave with Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth as the chief guest.

India-origin Members of Parliament -- Himanshu Gulati of Norway and Kanwaljit Bakshi of New Zealand -- will be the guests of honour.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman will be conferred on 30 individuals for their achievements and accomplishments in different fields, according to Singh.

After the conclusion of event on January 23, the participants will be taken to Prayagraj on January 24 where they will participate in the Kumbh Mela.

From there, they will be brought in special trains to New Delhi where they will witness the Republic Day on January 26, he added.

--IANS

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