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: 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. 

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.

"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. 

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."

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.