PM Modi Arrives in Washington, Diplomacy the Main Course for Obama Dinner

Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington on Monday on the second leg of his five-day US visit during which he will hold talks with US President Barack Obama.

Mr Obama is also hosting a private dinner, which will be the first opportunity for both the leaders to interact with each other. Extreme dinner diplomacy will be required as the PM is fasting and that makes the whole meal invitation somewhat tricky.

Prime Minister Modi is on the fifth day of the nine-day Navratri fast, a ritual he observes strictly every year. The White House has, according to some sources, prepped an all-vegetarian meal for the others.

Though he is surviving entirely on warm water - even though a special "nimbu-pani" (lime water) concentrate had been packed with his luggage - Mr Modi had impressed audiences with his powerful and engaging speeches.

Some of the guests at the Pierre A Taj hotel, where a dinner was held on Sunday evening, were also taken by surprise with his strong handshake. "He is not showing any signs of weakness. He shook hands with hundreds at the dinner and many we're talking about his firm grip," said Zafar Sareshwala, a businessman originally from Ahmedabad.

Even during the dinner, hosted by Indian ambassador Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, while the guests feasted on the mouth-watering, multi-cuisine fare, Prime Minister Modi was seen sipping warm water.

Welcome to Washington. Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns receives PM @narendramodi at Andrews Airforce Base. pic.twitter.com/IiUFuZVFPf

- Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 29, 2014

On Monday morning too, when business leaders sat at a breakfast table and discussed how to meet India's appetite for investment and the investors' hunger for better climate, the Prime Minister stuck to warm water.

But officials say the PM is showing no signs of slowing down despite the fasting.

Mr Modi had arrived in US on September 26. Apart from addressing UN General Assembly, he has also addressed Indian-American community at New York's prestigious Madison Square Garden.