Republic Day 2024: Chief Guest Macron thanks India for “great honour”; takes Hawa Mahal selfie with Modi

President of France Emmanuel Macron sat subsequent to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi because the Chief Guest of Indian Republic Day 2024 this morning. But first, the 2 heads of state, who get alongside very well, took a selfie.

This morning, Macron noticed the seventy fifth Republic Day parade with nice curiosity — the theme of “Nari Shakti (Woman Power)” was spectacularly showcased on the parade; girls marched and led regiments, marching bands, and the cultural tableaux.

French legionnaires additionally marched on Kartavya Path, and French-made Rafale plane have been a part of the flypast that historically closes the parade.

Yesterday afternoon, Macron arrived in Jaipur on the invitation of the Government of India and spent some vibrant hours sightseeing earlier than he was joined by Modi. The two leaders took half in a roadshow; took a selfie in entrance of Hawa Mahal, the Jaipur icon that serves as the town’s world calling card; and had masala chai from a neighborhood vendor.

Macron additionally visited the hilltop Amber Palace and the Jantar Mantar observatory, and obtained a small reproduction of the newly inaugurated Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The rigorously curated tour ended at a palace-turned-hotel.

The two leaders have been pushed in an open-top car by way of a brief stretch within the coronary heart of the town, starting from Jantar Mantar, the 18th century astronomical observatory which is now a UNESCO heritage web site.

Macron and Modi stood within the car, chatting and waving at individuals who lined the route. For the prime minister, it was his third go to to Jaipur after December 3, when the BJP gained the Assembly polls.

They acquired down in entrance of the breezy Hawa Mahal, and admired the lit-up five-storey constructing with almost 1,000 home windows and ‘jharokhas’.

The two leaders visited a handicrafts store within the space. Modi, who led the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya’s new Ram Mandir this week, purchased a small reproduction of the temple for the visitor, in response to the shopkeeper.

He paid INR 500 for the artefact — digitally, by way of UPI, showcasing the ‘Made in India’ digital cost interface.

“Sahu chaiwala”, who had arrange a short lived stall for the event, accepted INR 2 as token cost for the masala tea provided to the leaders. Again, the cost was digital.

The two leaders boarded the open-top car once more to proceed the roadshow as much as Sanganeri Gate. From there, they have been to be pushed to Rambagh Palace for dinner and the bilateral talks.

Earlier, within the afternoon, the French delegation was obtained by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar; Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra; and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on the Jaipur airport.

A few hours later, Modi, who was on a go to to Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr, additionally reached Jaipur.

He met up with Macron at Jantar Mantar, the place the 2 shook palms, hugged after which took a short tour of the observatory.

Before this assembly, Macron had already ticked off Amber Palace on his Jaipur itinerary. His delegation had headed straight from the airport to the fort, the seat of Kachhwa Rajputs earlier than Jaipur was based close by.

A purple carpet was laid out and caparisoned elephants lined up on the fort for the French president.

Macron interacted there with a bunch of kids. The delegation additionally browsed by way of artefacts on show on the momentary stalls arrange close to the doorway.

S Jaishankar and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari have been on the fort.

Cutouts and hoardings have been earlier put up at a number of areas in Jaipur across the websites that Modi and Macron have been set to go to.