Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fasted for Navratri for the last four decades and this year is likely to be no different. However, coincidentally, this year, the timing of the holy festival of Navaratri coincides with Modi's visit to the United States. Hence, he is likely to be on liquids for the entire tour, according to a report published in the Indian Express.
In the US, the prime minister is set to get a gala reception from the vast Indian diaspora and also from US President Barack Obama. Obama will be also hosting a private dinner for Modi. But the prime minister is unlikely to eat anything at those gala affairs.
Officials in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) officials, however, have urged Modi to take vitamin water or lime juice, keeping in mind his busy schedule. In fact, now the entire planning for the prime minister's engagement in the US is being done keeping in mind his nine-day fast. Well-known NRIs who are organising different events have been advised not to make Modi's schedule too heavy .
Bharat Barai, a physician and the main organiser of the Madison Square Garden event, said to the newspaper, “We know the Prime Minister will be fasting during the Navratri festival and this is one reason officials in New Delhi told us not to make his schedule too hectic. In any case, the enthusiasm over this visit is so great and there were so many requests for the Prime Minister to visit other cities that we could accommodate very little.”
The seating capacity in the arena is already “oversubscribed” and hence organisers have made arrangements for live streaming of Modi's speech at Times Square. In total Modi is set to attend 26 meetings during the three-day tour, including summit level talks with President Obama.
