Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to begin today in Gujarat

The 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas- a three day event will begin in Gujarat on Wednesday.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj along with Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel will be inaugurating the event.

'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' is the world's largest annual gathering of people of Indian origin aimed at enhancing networking and reinforcing the economic and cultural bonding.

The prestigious annual event of Indian Diaspora will formally be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. The Prime Minster will also inaugurate Dandi Kutir- a permanent exhibition on life and message of Mahatma Gandhi at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

The closing ceremony will be attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari on January 9. He will also be presenting the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.

The President of Guyana Donald Ramotar will be the Chief Guest of the event. He is also to be presented the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians and people of Indian origin.

South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is also attending the event to mark Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa 100 years ago.

Gujarat is the partner country for the event. Other states participating in the event are Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, Kerala and Nagaland.