Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar as he arrived in Bhubaneswar on Thursday to inaugurate the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in a message shared earlier, expressed pride in the contributions of Indians worldwide. “Greetings to everyone on the occasion of ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.’ The contribution of Indians in the development of the country is unforgettable. Let us adopt indigenous ideas and pledge to further promote the art, culture, and traditions of our country in the world,” he posted on X.
LIVE : ମାନନୀୟ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ନରେନ୍ଦ୍ର ମୋଦୀଙ୍କ ଗରୀମାମୟ ଉପସ୍ଥିତିରେ 'ପ୍ରବାସୀ ଭାରତୀୟ ଦିବସ ସମ୍ମେଳନ'ର ଶୁଭ ଉଦଘାଟନ।#PravasiBharatiyaDivas https://t.co/rwLwhdpSyi
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) January 9, 2025
The PBD Convention, organized in collaboration with the Odisha state government, is a flagship event of the Government of India. Held from January 8 to 10, it aims to strengthen ties with the Indian diaspora and encourage mutual interaction.
Theme and Key Highlights
The theme for this year’s PBD Convention is “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat”. The event has seen participation from Indian diaspora members representing over 50 countries.
EAM S Jaishankar, addressing the event on Wednesday, described India’s diaspora as a “living bridge” connecting the nation to the world. “India will be unique in terms of a major power rising which has actually used, is using, and will continue to use its diaspora as a very important pathway of its globalization and for its rise in the international order,” Jaishankar remarked.
Special Initiatives
Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate the convention and virtually flag off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the Indian diaspora. Departing from Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi, the train will take passengers on a three-week tour covering destinations of cultural and religious significance across India.
This initiative is part of the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana, aimed at promoting India’s rich cultural heritage among the diaspora.
A Grand Welcome in Odisha
PM Modi’s arrival in Bhubaneswar was marked by a warm reception from Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, CM Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at the Bhubaneswar Airport.
The convention not only serves as a platform for cultural exchange but also reinforces the pivotal role of the Indian diaspora in contributing to India’s growth as a global power.