Sartorial makeover marks informal meet

Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
Mamallapuram, October 11

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping began their second informal summit here with a sartorial makeover. Xi abandoned his coat for a white full-sleeves shirt tucked into a black pant while PM Modi opted for the dress of the land — a Tamil version of the dhoti with an angvastaram draped over his left shoulder.

PM Modi landed in Chennai a couple of hours earlier and then rode a helicopter to Mamalapuram while Xi took the road option lined with AIADMK and BJP supporters, besides schoolchildren.

At 5 pm, PM Modi received Xi on the road skirting the monuments before kicking off their walkathon. He had earlier tweeted in three languages — English, Tamil and Mandarin — expressing his happiness at Xi’s arrival and wishing for further strengthening of bilateral ties.

The two leaders visited three monuments — Arjuna’s Penance, Panch Ratha and Shore Temple — accompanied by two translators.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, the 1,300-year-old Shore Temple is a cultural symbol of ancient Tamil architecture.

After a coconut water break that ended the 45-minute tour of the monuments, the two leaders sat down for a cultural performance against the backdrop of an illuminated Shore temple. 

As the 20-minute dance performance ended, Modi invited Xi for a private dinner that included 16 guests, eight from each side, but seated a little away from the Modi-Xi duo. The menu was entirely local cuisine, including both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.