Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing welcome from the Indian community in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Monday, with expatriates gathering at his hotel and chanting "Modi Modi" as he arrived. Modi greeted the crowd personally, acknowledging their enthusiasm, before sitting down to watch a traditional shadow puppet performance retelling the story of the Ramayana, a display that carried the imprint of India's ancient cultural roots thousands of miles from home.
A Bharatanatyam tribute that moved the Prime Minister
The community's reception and the performances by local artists left Modi visibly delighted, and he took to social media platform X to compliment the performers. He wrote that in Jakarta he had the opportunity to watch a beautiful Bharatanatyam dance performance presented by the Samanvay Group, adding that it was heartening to see India's traditional art forms being preserved and performed with such dedication and skill even today, far from where they originated.
Honouring the Triple Gem and Indonesia's Buddhist heritage
In a separate post, Modi praised another performance titled "Homage to the Triple Gem," staged by artists from the Vihara Dharma Ratna Group, calling it outstanding. He noted that the act beautifully portrayed the timeless teachings of Lord Buddha and the deeper values associated with the Triple Gem, and said it was gratifying to see the people of Indonesia nurturing and carrying forward their rich Buddhist heritage with so much enthusiasm and commitment.
A ceremonial airport welcome from President Prabowo Subianto
Earlier in the day, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto personally received Modi at Jakarta airport as the Prime Minister landed for a three day state visit to the country. Modi said he was deeply touched by the special reception the President extended to him. This marks the first bilateral visit between the two countries since 2018, the year in which India and Indonesia elevated their relationship to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Modi said he was looking forward to his talks with President Prabowo, describing them as an opportunity to further cement ties between the two nations.
What Modi said after touching down
Writing on X shortly after arrival, Modi said he had reached Jakarta and was deeply moved by the warm reception President Prabowo had arranged for him at the airport. He recalled that the 2018 upgrade in bilateral ties had brought considerable benefit to the people of both nations. He added that during this visit, the two leaders would hold discussions aimed at expanding cooperation across several sectors. Modi also revealed that he plans to visit the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta during the trip, a stop expected to further strengthen the cultural bond between India and Indonesia. He said he was equally looking forward to meeting members of the Indian community based in Indonesia.
Four ministers and a fighter jet escort at the airport
According to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, four ministers joined President Prabowo Subianto at the airport to welcome Modi, and a cultural programme was also staged for the occasion. Adding a further show of ceremonial honour, Indonesian Air Force fighter jets flew alongside the aircraft carrying Modi as it entered Indonesian airspace, escorting the Prime Minister's plane right up to its landing in Jakarta.
