As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to take the oath of office for the third time on June 9, all roads will lead to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which will, once again, become the centre of attraction. Close to 10,000 guests have been invited to catch sight of Modi's swearing-in as the leader of the republic. This will include leaders of neighbouring countries—Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremasinghe, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kumar Dahal Prachanda and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu
The ceremony will begin at 7.15pm, and is expected to finish around 8.30pm. And then starts the gastronomic journey—opening up those plates that would whip up the senses. Something there for every tang and hankering? What’s on offer? Sources in the Rashtrapati Bhavan have told THE WEEK that the guests will be offered traditional vegetarian thali, with delicacies from all major regions in the country. Both Modi and President Droupadi Murmu are vegetarians, and important Gujarati and Odia cuisines will be on offer.
The last event held in Rashtrapati Bhavan was the Civil Investiture Ceremony, on May 9. Even on that day pure vegetarian meal was offered to guests. Some of the important dishes on that day were chaat, dhokla, kesari bhaat, mushroom kebab and hare bhare kebab. All these dishes are expected to be there tomorrow.
There were reports doing the rounds on Rashtrapati Bhavan planning to screen the much-anticipated T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan (that starts at 8pm tomorrow) after the ceremony. “No, there will not be any match screening for guests,” said a source.
'Modi will complete five-year term'
For Modi, the timing of the oath-taking ceremony looks favourable. Said astrologer Chithrabhanu K. Poduval, “It is shuklapaksha chaturthi tidhi, punarvasu nakshatra, and Jupiter stands in the 11th house tomorrow during the oath-taking ceremony. The timing of the ceremony looks favourable for Modi,” he said.
The government will be able to smoothly complete its five-year term, said Poduval. “There seems to be a good chance for Modi to get more powerful, like he used to be, after November. I don’t find any major hitches for him in the coming months. Having said that, he could be at the receiving end of some agitations till around October, especially from forces that want to destabilise his government,” he said.
