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Ganga 'aarti' and other stories from Japan PM Shinzo Abe's India visit

Ganga 'aarti' and other stories from Japan PM Shinzo Abe's India visit

By :  DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-12-11 13:54 GMT
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe attended the spectacular sunset Ganga Aarti at the fabled Dashashwamedh Ghat on Saturday, marking a new chapter in traditional cultural ties between the two countries.
Japan once shunned nuclear cooperation with India, which has not ratified the international nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but analysts say Tokyo has since softened its stance.
Japan and India agreed several high-profile deals Saturday on high-speed rail, defence technology, and a memorandum of understanding on civil nuclear cooperation, Narendra Modi said.
Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe on Saturday left for Varanasi together to watch the 'Ganga aarti' from a floating stage specially erected by Army personnel for this occasion.
The two PMs had signed an agreement to develop Varanasi as a smart city when Modi visited Japan in August last year. Over 12,000 LED lights have been installed all across Varanasi to give it a dazzling look.
Shinzo Abe is received by UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on his arrival in Varanasi.
Shinzo Abe being given traditional welcome on his arrival in Varanasi with Modi.
This is the first time that a foreign dignitary has attended such a ceremony in India.
Abe's visit to the Ghat fully decorated with flowers assumed significance as it came against the backdrop of Partner City Agreement between Kyoto and Varanasi, signed by the two leaders during the Prime Ministers visit to Japan in August last year.
Over 12,000 LED lights have been installed all across Varanasi to give it a dazzling look on the occasion.
The two leaders spent about 45 minutes at the Ghat in Modi's parliamentary constituency where they watched the Ganga Aarti, an exquisitely choreographed ritual performed daily on the banks of the river. Modi had earlier said culture and people
Amid chanting of slokas, Modi and Abe offered flowers and a rose garland on the banks of the river. Nearly 7,000 security personnel were pressed into service for the high-profile visit lasting about four hours.
Japanese premier Shinzo Abe arrived in India on Friday on a three-day visit for annual summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which the two sides are expected to seal a Rs 98,000 crore deal for India's first bullet train track and
Abe, accompanied by a high-level delegation, was received at the airport by Union Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha.
Japan PM Shinzo Abe said that Prime Minister Modi’s speed of implementing policies is as fast as a bullet train
Hours after he arrived, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Abe during which a host of issues of mutual interest figured.
In the 9th annual Indo-Japan summit talks on Saturday, Modi and Abe will review implementation of various decisions taken in course of last one year and are likely to focus on enhancing trade and investment between the two Asian economic powers.
Modi had visited Japan from August 30 to September 3 last year during which that country had announced doubling of its private and public investment in India to about USD 34 billion over a period of five years.
According to sources, the sides are working to make forward movement in the proposed nuclear deal.
Shinzo Abe being conferred with an honorary doctorate in International Relations by Jawaharlal Nehru University by its Vice Chancellor Sudhir Kumar Sopory.
Shinzo Abe shakes hands with Sumit Mazumder, President CII during the Japan India Innovation Seminar. While agreeing on greater defence equipment and technology cooperation, the two sides had decided to expedite discussions on modalities for the
Welcoming his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a "phenomenal leader" and said his trip will further deepen the bilateral relations (Photo: Twitter)
The two PMs with the men and women driving the India Japan economic partnership as Business Leaders Forum concludes (Photo: Twitter)
Abe and Modi have forged close economic and defence ties aimed partly at pushing back against China's growing assertiveness in the region. Both are embroiled in territorial disputes with China (Photo: Twitter)
Expanding economic and strategic cooperation, Modi said, "India is a land of possibilities with excellent human resources and a technological base and Japan has been there at every turning point." (Photo: Twitter)
A strong India is good for Japan and a strong Japan is good for India, says Shinzo Abe at the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum (Photo: Twitter)
President Pranab Mukherjee welcomes Japan PM Shinzo Abe (Photo: Twitter)
Abe, making a third trip to India since he became prime minister, pledged stronger maritime ties, also involving its ally (Photo: Twitter)
India and Japan are likely to finalise an agreement on protection of military information during Abe's trip that will the lay the ground for Japanese arms sales to India, including seaplanes (Photo: Twitter)
Abe told reporters that Japan's cooperation with India in the nuclear field will be limited to peaceful objectives.
Modi has pledged to overhaul India's ramshackle railways and other infrastructure as part of his ambitious economic reforms.
The pair also agreed a long-mooted memorandum of understanding on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, which has not yet been signed as technical details are still being finalised, a spokesman for foreign ministry said on Twitter.
Ganga 'aarti' and other stories from Japan PM Shinzo Abe's India visit

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