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SOUTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 25, 2025 | The Indian Eye 29

Sao Paulo-based Indian singer Meeta Ravindra greets Prime Minister Modi as President Lula
looks on at the official welcome ceremony in Brasilia

Meeta Ravindra, accompanied by Sagar Karahe on tabla, sings a Ram Bhajan at the welcome
ceremony for PM Modi hosted by President Lula and First Lady Janja da Silva

empowerment, strength, and grati- bhajan, the air shifted. “As President
tude — from us, to our nation,” said Lula, Janja, and Modi ji came closer
Gyaneshree. to listen, their expressions changed,”
“We are very thankful to the Indi- she recalled. “Modi ji was marking the
an embassy, Indian consulate, Swami rhythm with his hands. Lula had tears
Vivekanand Cultural Centre and the in his eyes.”
Indian Association for giving us this After the performance, Mee-
opportunity – and responsibility – for ta was greeted by Modi and warm- Indian Prime Minister listens to chanting of mantras in Sanskrit by the Brazilian group
performing in front of the Prime Min- ly embraced by President Lula Luz do Astral from Florianopolis
ister of India at such an important and the First Lady Janja da Silva.
event,” said Gyaneshree Karahe. “When Lula heard that I was from
São Bernardo do Campo like him,
A SACRED MOMENT IN he hugged me again,” she said, her
BRASÍLIA voice filled with emotion. “It was the
fulfillment of a beautiful dream.”
he emotion carried forward to Adding rhythm to the evening
Brasília, where Brazilian Pres-
Tident Lula da Silva hosted a was Sagar Karahe on tabla. “Playing
in front of Modi ji, President Lula,
special reception for Prime Minister and Janja was one of the most emo-
Modi at his official residence -- the tional moments of my life,” he said. “I
Palácio da Alvorada. The event was felt like I was offering a piece of In-
formal yet profoundly intimate, with dia’s soul to Brazil. It wasn’t just a per-
ceremonial honors and a cultural formance — it was a bridge between
tribute that turned into a moment of cultures.”
shared humanity. Sagar’s performance, widely
“I felt like my heart was about
to burst out of my chest,” said Meeta shared on social media, drew praise
for its technical finesse and artistry.
Ravindra, a respected Indian classical “It confirmed how powerful Indian
singer based in Brazil for decades, classical music can be — it moves,
who was invited by the Ministry of unites, and transcends language.”
Culture — at President Lula’s person-
al request — to sing a Ram Bhajan
for PM Modi. “It was an immense joy A CELEBRATION OF CULTURES
— a true gift and recognition of the From the cultural vibrancy of Rio Prime Minister Modi listens to a bhajan sung by Aviral Dixit, 5, at the community reception in
work I’ve been doing for over 50 years to the melodious dignity of Brasília, Rio de Janeiro
in Brazil.” these moments of music and dance
As the national anthems of In- revealed a deeper layer of PM Modi’s was about showing that India lives in in the verses of a bhajan sung from the
dia and Brazil played, followed by Brazil visit — one grounded in emo- their hearts, their art, and their every- heart — India and Brazil found har-
the raising of both flags, the mood tion, community, and shared identity. day lives in Brazil. mony, not just as BRICS partners, but
was dignified and deeply respectful. For the Indian diaspora, it wasn’t just In the rhythming beats of the tab- as nations connected by culture.
But as Meeta Ravindra began her about seeing their Prime Minister. It la, in the swirl of the Kathak dancers, Photos: (DPR PMO/ANI)

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