Special passes for NRI foreign delegates of PBD 2019 at 70th Republic Day Celebrations in New Delhi
28NRIs and 2 organizations Awarded at 2019 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Hema Malini and Sandip Soparrkar in ‘Ganga’ Musical at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Los Angeles, Aug. 15, 2018
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

On Saturday, Jan 26, 2019, India celebrated the 70th Republic Day at the Rajpath , New Delhi , and worldwide by NRIs (such as Chicago and LA Model)

• South African President Ramaphosa was the chief guest
• 22 tableaux including 16 from states and union territories and six from central government ministries and departments, participated in parade
• The parade ceremony commenced with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• 26 children including six girls and 20 boys awardees of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruskar for their "exceptional achievement"
• The march included: Para-military and other auxiliary forces’  naval contingent comprised of 144 young sailors led by Lieutenant Commander Ambika Sudhakarn; Indian Air Force marching contingent also comprised 144 air warriors; Sukhoi-30MKI and Akash missile system; flypast by the IAF; a lone Su-30 MKI flying at a speed of 900 km/hr

India celebrates 70th Republic Day; highlights Mahatma's life .....CLICK VIDEO

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28NRIs and 2 organizations Awarded at 2019 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Varanasi, India Jan 23, 2019
NRIpress

Today in Varanasi, India‘s President, Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to 28 NRIs and 2 organizations belonging to 23 countries while addressing the over 4,000 NRI delegates from about 85 countries.

Ram Nath Kovind said, “India is the fastest growing economy in the world and also urged the Indian diaspora across the to participate in the building of new India.”

The chief guest of this year at Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, surprised the NRIs when he started the speech in Hindi

Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India  said, “NRIs as brand ambassadors of the country India, playing leadership roles in many countries including Mauritius, Portugal and Ireland and are the symbols of our capacities and capabilities.”

	PM Modi's speech at the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2019 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	CLICK VIDEO
	Sushma Swaraj's speech at the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2019 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	CLICK VIDEO

Hema Malini and Sandip Soparrkar in ‘Ganga’ Musical at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

PigeonMedia/A. Dubey

At the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas In Varanasi, Hema Malini and Natyavihar Kala Kendra presented a dazzling dance ballet on the life of Ganga. The show Choreographed by Bhushan Lakandri had the dream girl Hema Malini playing Maa Ganga and one of India’s leading dancers Sandip Soparrkar playing lord Shiva.

Hema Malini dressed in sparking white n sliver cloths by leading designer Neeta Lulla and dancer choreographer Sandip Soparrkar playing the role of Shiva, narrated the age old story of India's holiest river. The show also touched the parts of Mahabharata moving on to the topic of Swatch Ganga and how it was getting polluted. 

The 90-minute dance drama at the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas’ in Varanasi drew praise from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath. In presence of international and national delegates and ministers Ms Swaraj said “I don''t have words about Hema Malini ji’s performance, first time ever in my life, I am taking three words from famous TV shows for your performance - Adbhut, Avishwasniya and Akalpaniya" (wonderful, unbelievable and unimaginable), 
Member of Parliament Padmashree Hema Malini thanked her team and praised the work of Sandip Soparrkar who aptly played the dashing shiva, Ms Malini said, “Sandip is a western dancer but he played the role of Shiva so beautifully and made him look unimaginably dynamic.”

Ms Swaraj too praised Soparrkar’s dance and complimented him for making lord Shiva look larger than life. 
Soparrkar said, “I am humbled and thankful to Hema Ji and Bhushan sir for choosing me to be Shiva. I am elated to play the most divine role in the life of Ganga.”

The music of Ganga was composed by Padmashree Ravindra Jain, Asit Desai and his son Alaap Desai, the songs were rendered by Suresh Wadkar, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Shankar Mahadevan and Mika Singh, the grand costumes were designed by Neeta Lulla, special effects were by Vibhore Khandelwal and choreography by Bhushan Lakandri 

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the closing will see the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind. The theme of this year's 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' is the "Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New India". The objective of the conference, as well as the plenary, was to solicit the diaspora's participation in the area of affordable waste management in the country, particularly with reference to India's flagship initiatives such as the Swacch Bharat Mission, National Mission for Clean Ganga, and the Smart Cities initiative. It also gave the participants an opportunity to visit the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and also witness the Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on January 26.

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Pravasi Bhartiya Divas from 21-23 January, 2019 at Varanasi

Date moved to accommodate to Include Kumbh Mela and Republic Day celebration
Great opportunities for NRI Community especially NRI Hindus

New Delhi, January 04, 2019
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

Instead of 9th January celebration of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas each year as usual, 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, 2019 is being organized from 21 to 23 January 2019 to include Kumbh Mela and Republic Day celebrations. The Convention will be held at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The participants will be brought to New Delhi by special trains to take part in the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

• Himanshu Gulati, an Indian-origin member of parliament of Norway will be the chief guest
• Kanwaleet Singh Bakshi, also an Indian-origin member of parliament of New Zealand will be the guest of honour.
• The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman will be conferred on 30 Indian-origin individuals for their exceptional and meritorious contributions in their chosen fields or professions. 

21 January 2019 – Monday Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

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22 January 2019 – Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the main event with Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth, who is also of Indian-origin, attending as the chief guest.

On January 22,
Inauguration of 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention 2019

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23 January 2019 – Wednesday The event will conclude on January 23 with a valedictory session that will be addressed by President Ram Nath Kovind 15th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention

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24 January, 2019, Thursday
In Prayagraj (Visit to Kumbh Mela)

Participants would arrive in Prayagraj by bus (Volvo AC Bus). Arrangements for holy bathing at Sangam.
"On January 24, we will take the participants to Prayagraj (as Allahabad is also known) for the Kumbh Mela, which has been inscribed on the Unesco's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," Sushma Swaraj said

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25 January, 2019, Friday

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26 January, 2019, Saturday

Special passes to NRIs For 70 Republic Day Event: Witnessing the 70 Republic Day Event--Special passes for foreign delegates of PBD 2019 have been arranged for the Republic Day

India Republic Day on January 26 each year celebrated in India to remember when India's constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, completing the country's transition toward becoming an independent republic