- Friday, February 28, 2025
Indian Americans are planning to welcome Modi with an ‘India Unity Day’ march in 20 major cities across America on June 18.
By: Shubham Ghosh
AHEAD OF Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US, a New Jersey-based restaurant has prepared a special ‘Modi Ji Thali’ dish to commemorate the occasion.
Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of president Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden next week. The first couple will also host the prime minister over a state dinner on June 22.
#WATCH | A New Jersey-based restaurant launches 'Modi Ji' Thali for PM Narendra Modi's upcoming State Visit to the US. Restaurant owner Shripad Kulkarni gives details on the Thali. pic.twitter.com/XpOEtx9EDg
— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2023
During the trip, Modi will also become the first Indian PM to address a joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time. The ‘Modi Ji Thali’, curated by chef Shripad Kulkarni, comprises dishes as diverse as the Indian landscape.
The dishes in the Thali range from khichdi, rasgulla, sarso da saag and Kashmiri dum aloo to idli, dhokla, chaach and papad.
Recently, the United Nations declared 2023 as the “International Year of Millets” after a recommendation from the Indian government in the year 2019.
To promote awareness of millets, the restaurant has consciously indulged in a lavish feast prepared using millets. The restaurant owner also plans to launch another thali soon, dedicated to external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
“We plan to launch this thali soon. I’m very positive that it’s going to gain popularity. Once this does well I also plan to launch a Dr Jaishankar Thali, because he too has that rockstar appeal amongst the Indian American community,” Malhotra said.
Indian Americans are planning to welcome Modi with an ‘India Unity Day’ march in 20 major cities across America on June 18, the organisers have announced.
While a group of Indian Americans are planning to go to Andrews Air Force Base when the prime minister’s Air India One lands on June 21 afternoon from New York, more than 600 community members are planning to gather at Freedom Plaza in front of the Willard Intercontinental in Washington located near the White House where the PM will be staying.
At freedom plaza, the community will showcase the cultural fabric of India through cultural events representing India spanning from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and West to East.
On June 22, more than 7,000 of Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when the US first couple would welcome Modi amidst a 21-gun salute. The White House will be closing the registration shortly for those attending the welcome ceremony.
This is not the first time a restaurant has dedicated a thali to PM Modi.
Last year, ahead of Modi’s birthday on September 17, a Delhi-based restaurant launched a thali named ’56 inch Narendra Modi Thali’.
ARDOR 2.1, a restaurant located in Connaught Place, Delhi, presented the big-sized thali having 56 items, with the customer having the choice of opting for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
(With ANI inputs)
