(Image source from: Telegraph India)
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Sammelan or Indian diaspora conclave, beginning on January 21 will be focusing on connecting a new generation of Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) with their home country, said External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, she said, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Sammelan and on the same evening, film actor and Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Hema Malini will perform Gangavataran on the bank of Ganga river.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan will be conferred on 30 individuals for their accomplishments and achievements in different fields.
On January 24, the participants will be taken to Prayagraj to take part in Kumbh Mela after the end of the event on January 23. Kumbh Mela is an event a mass Hindu pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus gather to bathe in a holy or sacred river.
Up to now, 7,000 people have registered for the event. The chief guest is Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius.
Read: Over 5,000 Register for Indian Diaspora Conclave
Besides the setting up of a tent city to accommodate delegates, a special part of the PBD will be "Kashi ka Aathithya", whereby arrangements will be made for overseas Indians to stay free of charge in the homes of residents of Varanasi.
There will be different sessions dedicated to topics such as the diaspora's role in capacity building for artificial intelligence, developing India's cyber capacity, Indian community groups working for Indian nationals in distress, and inexpensive solar power and waste management.
-Sowmya Sangam
