New Delhi, Prayagraj, ‘How is the Josh…..Josh is very high, very high’ – salutations for Gen (Retd) V K Singh, a former army chief and incumbent MoS External Affairs, resonated at the Prayagraj railway station and the special Pravasi Bharatiya Express train that brought scores of Pravasi Indians to the national capital on Friday.
The visiting overseas Indians and people of Indian origin would be witnessing the majestic Republic Day parade at Rajpath on Saturday as part of special arrangements made in connection with the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations that was held in Varanasi.
The visit to Prayagraj for Kumbh holy dip and participation at the world’s largest congregation has been organised by the Ministry of External Affairs as part of this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations. The main convention at Varanasi concluded on Wednesday.
Gen V K Singh showed an unprecedented and unique gesture by flagging off the first special train ‘Humsafar’ and also traveled with them over night on Thursday evening.
En route Prayagraj to Delhi, Minister of State for External Affairs met the visiting NRIs, went into all the compartments, interacted with them and posed for selfies.
“The General sahab has shown unique gesture and hence we arranged this special salutation for him. Gen Singh entered each of the coaches and posed for selfies, asked about our trip, about our health. We just feel humble and touched,” said Lalji Kurji Patel, president of Overseas Friends of BJP Mauritius Chapter.
Talking to a group of select journalists, Gen Singh said: “The big message of the Pravasi Diwas celebrations in Varanasi and overseas Indians participating in Kumbh mela this year is simple and short – that India is changing and if you all should take note of it”.
For many travelling overseas Indians, the train travel in India was either ‘after a long time experience’ or even first experience.
In Prayagraj on Thursday, the overseas Indians took holy dip at Triveni sangam and visited Akshayvat tree and Saraswati Koop and Patalpuri temples.
The visit to the Akshayvat tree was banner for last 472 years and it was thrown opened recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Today (Thursday) was the first visit for public to this ancient tree, which defies all scientific definitions and we feel proud to be here,” said New York-based Dr Krishna Kumar.
“The dip at Sangam was a divine experience,” said radio programmer H Karishma from the US.
Cultural programmes were staged by various groups from states like Telangana, Assam and Uttar Pradesh at Prayagraj.
Artistes posed as Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva and mingled with the members of Indian Diaspora who had ome to attend Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations at Varanasi.
The host participants too were equally enthusiastic and Hema Borah from Goalpara in Assam said, “It was a delightful experience to meet so many NRIs and they all were lovely and so humble”.