Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a deeply emotional moment from his official visit to Ethiopia, where local singers performed a rendition of Vande Mataram during a banquet dinner hosted by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali in Addis Ababa.
The banquet, held on Tuesday, formed part of the ceremonial welcome accorded to the Indian Prime Minister on his arrival in the African nation.
As the performance concluded, PM Modi warmly applauded the singers, clearly touched by the cultural gesture.
The rendition assumed special importance as it coincided with the marking of 150 years since the composition of Vande Mataram in India.
Sharing a video of the performance on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, “At yesterday’s banquet dinner hosted by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, a wonderful rendition of Vande Mataram was sung by Ethiopian singers. It was a deeply moving moment, that too at a time when we are marking 150 years of Vande Mataram.”
At yesterday’s banquet dinner hosted by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, a wonderful rendition of Vande Mataram was sung by Ethiopian singers. It was a deeply moving moment, that too at a time when we are marking 150 years of Vande Mataram. @AbiyAhmedAli pic.twitter.com/TeHbPzBBLb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 17, 2025
In the video, the Prime Minister raises his hands and claps appreciatively as the singers complete their performance.
Warm Welcome in Addis Ababa
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday to a rousing and heartfelt welcome, marking an important leg of his official visit undertaken at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The visit underlines the growing strategic and diplomatic significance of India–Ethiopia relations.
Both leaders engaged in an informal interaction at the airport soon after the Prime Minister’s arrival.
PM Modi also took part in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony alongside Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, describing it as a beautiful reflection of the country’s rich cultural heritage.
In a notable personal gesture, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed himself drove Prime Minister Modi from the airport to his hotel.
During the drive, he also showed him the Science Museum and Friendship Park, a move that was not part of the original itinerary, according to sources.
Members of the Indian community in Ethiopia extended a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the Prime Minister at the hotel.
Many had waited for hours, waving Indian flags, chanting patriotic slogans and presenting flowers as PM Modi interacted with them.
Adding to the cultural warmth, artists welcomed the Prime Minister with the Hindi song Dharti Sunehra Ambar Neela from the film Veer Zaara.
Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed later witnessed cultural performances and posed for photographs, reflecting the deepening people-to-people ties between the two nations.
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