Modi, Macron hold roadshow in Jaipur, stop for chai

Upon his arrival in the city, the French President was greeted at the airport by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Governor Kalraj Mishra.

He then visited some of the city’s iconic sites, including the historic Amber Fort, one of the six hill forts in Rajasthan recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the way there, he was greeted by thousands of school children and local residents who had lined the sides of the road.

At Amber, Macron, who was accompanied by Jaishankar and deputy CM Diya Kumari, was welcomed with a red carpet, decorated elephants, and Kachhi Ghodi folk dancers. While there, he interacted with students, including some who spoke French, as well as local artists.

After spending about two hours at Amber, Macron then left for Jaipur’s Jantar Mantar, where PM Modi greeted him with a hug. Modi had arrived in Jaipur from Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr about two hours after Macron landed in the city. At Jantar Mantar, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the two leaders were given a tour of the astronomical observatory established by 18th-century ruler Sawai Jai Singh.

Taking to X, Modi said in a post that Jantar Mantar “stands as a testament to India’s rich heritage in astronomy. It also symbolises the blend of ancient wisdom and modern science, a shared value that both India and France appreciate.”

From there, Macron and Modi took out a roadshow that passed through some parts of the old walled city, where they were welcomed by people in large numbers. The walled city was specially decorated for the occasion, and also had massive cutouts and hoardings of the two leaders. Many onlookers held banners saying “Bienvenue” – French for welcome. The two also clicked a selfie during the roadshow.

Modi and Macron also stopped by Hawa Mahal and visited some shops in the old city. Modi bought a replica of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as a gift for Macron, and paid for it through UPI. In visuals from the shop, Modi could be seen explaining the BHIM UPI payment app to Macron.

They also stopped to have tea in earthen cups at the famous Sahu tea stall. In a video, Macron can be heard talking about the distinctiveness of the earthen cup, and Modi responding that it was “most environment friendly”, and that it also gave a “special taste of earth”. Here, too, the PM paid for the tea through UPI.

The road show continued until Sanganeri Gate. After that, the two had dinner at Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, before leaving for New Delhi.