Obamas corner the attention at President's reception

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the 66th Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Monday The customary 'at home' celebration hosted by the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Republic Day had an unprecedented air of excitement on Monday evening, due to the presence of US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.

Special floral decorations had been set up on the Mughal Garden lawns, including one titled 'Peace', with two white flower doves. All those present tried to catch a glimpse of the Obamas from close quarters but only cabinet ministers got an opportunity to interact, being seated under the canopy for VIP guests.

Obama has reportedly been impressed by the sprawling Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was hosted the night before, too, at a banquet. On Monday, while he sat with President Pranab Mukherjee, he was reportedly admiring the building's enormous dome (designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens).

In a departure from the norm, the president's press secretary, Venu Rajamony, said the Union ministers had been seated under the canopy due to security concerns, Obama himself would not be able to stop outside that cordoned-off area. The couple towered over the ministers as they went around, shaking hands. Michelle was attired in a white jacket and dress, decorated with fine Kashmiri hand embroidery.

While Obama was seated between Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his wife had Vice-President Hamid Ansari for company. Obama was seen chatting with both leaders, while his wife had an animated discussion with the VP. Former PM Manmohan Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, were also seated under the VIP canopy.

Most ministers and their wives later proudly recounted their conversations with the Obamas when introduced. Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed him of the ministry he represented and made it a point to tell him he was a "senior advocate of the Supreme Court" - Obama had studied law, too, at Harvard. Minister of state for skill development Rajiv Pratap Rudy's wife, Neelam, recounted how she told Michelle that her children loved how the first lady dressed and her sense of fashion. To which a smiling Michelle reportedly told her to tell her kids "their mother is no less".

Power minister Piyush Goyal, designated minister-in-waiting for Obama during the visit, said the latter was very impressed with the arrangements.

It was a gracious host Pranab Mukherjee who stepped out of the VIP area and walked around meeting the guests. Modi, in a red jacket and a cream-coloured shawl, also took a quick round, greeting the invitees. This was Modi's first Republic Day but unlike August 15 when he was the centre of all attraction, this time the Obamas were the cynosure of all eyes.

Among the other dignitaries present were the chiefs of the three armed forces, Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and recent Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.