Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Chennai for the two-day informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a ‘Poorna Kumbam’ honour at the Anna International airport by priests of the ancient Kapaleeswarar temple.
The traditional Poorna Kumbam was considered the highest honour accorded by the temple priests to dignitaries. Poorna Kumbam, with a decorated metal pitcher filled with holy water, fresh mango leaves and a coconut on top, was accorded to
dignitaries as part of Hindu rituals during auspicious occasions.
A total of five priests from the Kapaleeswarar temple honoured the Chinese President as he alighted from the aircraft. Following the Poorna Kumbam, Mr Xi witnessed traditional cultural and folk events that incluced Thappattam, Oyilattam, Mayilattam,
Bharata Natyam and other forms at the airport campus.
After this, the Chinese President and his delegation left for the ITC Grand Chola Hotel, from where he would leave for Mamallapuram, at 1600 hrs, where he and Mr Modi would witness the world unesco heritage structures of Shore Temple, Five Rathas and Arjunan’s
Penance, which would be followed by a cultural programme and
a dinner hosted by Modi. Both the leaders would have informal talks tomorrow and delegation level talks were also likely to be held during the summit. Earlier, Modi arrived from New Delhi for the summit and left for Thiruvidanthai by helicopter from where he reached Mamallapuram by road, amid tight security. Later, Modi tweeted in three languages–English, Tamil and Mandarin–to wish his second informal meet with Jinping further strengthened bilateral ties.
“It is gladdening that Tamil Nadu will host President Xi Jinping. May this Informal Summit further strengthen ties between India and China,” the PM tweeted. (UNI)
