BRICS Summit: Screens Display PM Modi's Photo, 'Rakhi Thali' Awaits Him In Johannesburg. WATCH

BRICS Summit: Preparations are being made to welcome PM Narendra Modi and other world leaders for BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

BRICS Summit 2023: PM Narendra Modi's image on a digital screen in Johannesburg, South Africa ( Image Source :ANI Twitter )

BRICS Summit 2023: Johannesburg in South Africa is preparing to host a set of global leaders for the much anticipated 15th BRICS Summit and the first face-to-face since the Covid-19 pandemic. As expected, security arrangements have been intensified near the convention centre where the meeting will take place, reported ANI. Apart from this, the city has been decked up with posters and banners of the BRICS Summit. Large digital screens displaying an image of PM Narendra Modi have also been placed near the convention centre, ANI stated.

As per ANI, a total of ten such screens have been placed across Johannesburg. Notably, PM Modi has already left for Johannesburg and will be arriving here by Tuesday evening. ANI mentioned that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Lula da Silva have already arrived in Johannesburg. 

#WATCH | South Africa | Digital screens showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi put up near Convention Centre in Johannesburg where BRICS Summit will begin today. Around 10 such screens are placed across Johannesburg. pic.twitter.com/3ZLBGE2K5C

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2023

Meanwhile, talking to ANI, Executive Director, Vedanta Africa operations, Pushpender Singla expressed his excitement about PM Modi’s arrival in South Africa. He said, "...We are very excited about PM Modi's arrival in South Africa...I am looking forward that how our company Vedanta can also play a bigger part to bring South Africa and India together by bringing a lot of synergy in the business...The opportunities between South Africa and India are huge..." 

After his arrival, PM Modi will first meet the Indian community in the city after which he will be shown a 3-D image of Swami Narayan Mandir in Johannesburg, which is likely to be completed by 2025, the agency noted.

#WATCH | South Africa: 3-D image of Swami Narayan Mandir in Johannesburg, will be showcased by Indian community before PM Modi. The temple will be completed by 2025. pic.twitter.com/DccTgrzIq4

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2023

"The Prime Minister will first meet the community members of Johannesburg and surrounding areas. Thereafter, he will be taken through the 3-D model of the new Swami Narayan Mandir..," Sawubonamodiji Welcome Committee member, Naresh Ramatar told ANI. 

#WATCH | South Africa: Sawubonamodiji Welcome Committee member, Naresh Ramatar, says, "The Prime Minister will first meet the community members of Johannesburg and surrounding areas. Thereafter, he will be taken through the 3-D model of the new Swami Narayan Mandir..." https://t.co/v1T6qBl2lv pic.twitter.com/lrDz9IydpU

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2023

An Indian community member who is also a media personnel of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Yashika Singh, has prepared a 'Rakhi' thali to welcome PM Modi in South Africa.

Talking to ANI, she says,"...The first rakhi is in the shape of Lord Ganesha. We pray that all obstacles are removed for PM Modi in his work. The second rakhi is in the shape of Kurma avatar...We would like to remind him that he is still our brother and these are rakhis of protection for him."

#WATCH | Yashika Singh, an Indian community member and media personnel of South African Broadcasting Corporation, prepares a 'Rakhi' thali to welcome PM Modi in South Africa

"...The first rakhi is in the shape of Lord Ganesha. We pray that all obstacles are removed for PM Modi… pic.twitter.com/1h1uxyZfJl

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2023

Notably, South Africa became Chair of BRICS on January 1 under the theme: "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism."

Apart from the summit, PM Modi will also participate in a special event "BRICS – Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue" being organised after the BRICS Summit, which will include other nations invited by South Africa, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced in a press release. 

The BRICS is a group of five countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This year, South Africa is holding the presidency of the group and organising the first face-to-face summit since 2019 in Johannesburg.