Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Thursday after concluding his two-day State Visit to Mauritius, where he participated in the country’s National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest. This marks the second time PM Modi has received this honour, the first being in 2015.
During his visit, PM Modi engaged with leaders and the Indian diaspora in Mauritius. He also visited the sacred Ganga Talao (Grand Bassin) and performed a symbolic gesture by immersing water from the Triveni Sangam, collected from the Prayagraj Mahakumbh.
“At the Ganga Talao in Mauritius, I had the honour of immersing water from the Triveni Sangam into the Talao. For millions of Hindus around the world, the Triveni Sangam is of special significance. This year’s Mahakumbh drew pilgrims from all over the world, including Mauritius. May the blessings of Maa Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati always remain upon us,” PM Modi posted on X.
One of the key highlights of his visit was receiving Mauritius’ highest national award, the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean.’ Thousands of people gathered despite heavy rain to witness the moment.
Expressing his gratitude, PM Modi said:
“I express my heartfelt gratitude for being conferred the highest national award of Mauritius. This is not just my honour, it is the honour of 1.4 billion Indians. It is a tribute to the centuries-old cultural and historical bonds of kinship between India and Mauritius. It is an acknowledgement of our shared commitment to regional peace, progress, security, and sustainable development. And it is a symbol of the shared hopes and aspirations of the global south.”
PM Modi and his Mauritius counterpart, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, jointly inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation, which aims to serve as a hub for learning and research.
The visit also led to several agreements between the two nations, including collaborations on educational curriculum development, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on labour recruitment, and the establishment of the Directorate of Science and Technology in Mauritius. Additionally, PM Modi invited PM Ramgoolam to visit India.
Speaking at an event for the Indian community in Mauritius, PM Modi announced an important decision regarding the diaspora:
“In Mauritius, a decision has been made to extend the OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card eligibility to the seventh generation of the Indian diaspora. I had the privilege of presenting the OCI card to the President of Mauritius and his spouse. Likewise, I am delighted to extend the same honour to the Prime Minister of Mauritius and his spouse.”
PM Modi’s visit concluded with a banquet dinner hosted by PM Ramgoolam, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. The visit further solidified the long-standing cultural, economic, and strategic partnership between India and Mauritius.