Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, who was the sole Opposition leader present at the state banquet hosted for Russian President Vladimir Putin, described the atmosphere at the event as “warm and engaging.”
President Droupadi Murmu hosted the state dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday evening, just before President Putin concluded his two-day India visit and departed for Moscow.
A Focus on Strategic Partnership
Tharoor, who dined with several members of the visiting Russian delegation, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his experience:
“A warm and engaging atmosphere reigned. Enjoyed my conversations with many of the attendees, especially my dining companions from the Russian delegation!”
During his address at the banquet, President Putin emphasized the comprehensive and strategic nature of the India-Russia partnership. He noted that the declaration adopted during his summit with PM Modi encompasses a wide spectrum of cooperation.
“The declaration that we have adopted encompasses a wide range of cooperation across different spheres, including politics, security, the economy and trade, energy, education, and other areas. I am sure that this declaration, along with the other documents, will give a strong push to the development of our bilateral relations,” Putin said.
Exquisite Menu and Musical Collaboration
The state banquet was marked by an exquisite menu and a unique cultural exchange through music.
- The Main Course offered traditional Indian vegetarian fare, including Zafrani Paneer Roll, Paalak Methi Mattar Ka Saag, Tandoori Bharwan Aloo, and Achaari Baingan, accompanied by a variety of Indian breads and Kesar-Pista Kulfi for dessert.
- The Musical Highlight featured a collaboration between the Rashtrapati Bhavan Naval Band and classical instrumentalists. The repertoire fused Indian classical raagas (including ‘Amritavarshini’ and ‘Bhairavi’) with popular Russian melodies like ‘Kalinka’ and excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.
The evening served as the diplomatic farewell to the Russian President, underscoring the “specially privileged strategic partnership” between the two nations.