This story was originally published on the Benzinga India portal.
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House with an exchange of a series of unique gifts before engaging in a private dinner.
What Happened? As an official gift, Modi gave Biden a handcrafted sandalwood box. The box, symbolic of reaching "Drishta Sahasrachandro" (having seen a thousand full moons), contains a silver idol of Lord Ganesha, an oil lamp (diya), and a "Das Danam."
Jill Biden received a 7.5-carat eco-friendly green diamond placed in a paper pulp box, known as ‘kar-e-kalamdani’.
In addition, Modi gifted Biden a copy of "The Ten Principal Upanishads," a first-edition print book.
Image: Doordarshan News
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In return, the Bidens gifted Modi a handmade antique American book galley, a vintage American camera, a hardcover book of American wildlife photography, and a signed, first edition of "Collected Poems of Robert Frost."
Before arriving in Washington, Modi led a record-setting yoga session at the UN headquarters in New York. He was warmly welcomed on Tuesday and met with several CEOs, intellectuals, and academics.
Historic Visit: PM Modi is the third Indian Prime Minister to receive an invitation for a state visit, the highest diplomatic honor reserved for close allies. The state visit involves an invitation by the Head of State to their official residence.
The Bidens will host a separate State Dinner at the White House for PM Modi, which approximately 400 guests are expected to attend.
Read next: PM Modi Calls On U.S. Chipmakers To Fuel India’s Semiconductor Revolution
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