65,000 People, 700 Performers & Over 1,500 Volunteers: 'Ahlan Modi' Set to be PM’s Biggest Diaspora Event in Abu Dhabi

The ‘Ahlan Modi’ event in Abu Dhabi on February 13 may be among the biggest diaspora events of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ever, with 65,000 people registering to attend the same in the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The biggest diaspora event so far of Modi was in Wembley Stadium in 2015 attended by nearly 60,000 people.

The organisers in Abu Dhabi closed registrations on February 3 after getting 65,000 of them and are presently checking the documents to ensure only persons of Indian origin are present at the event. Nishi Singh, Director, Communications, Team Ahlan Modi, told News18 from UAE that 150 Indian community groups from different regions of the country will be there and about 700 local performers will enthral the audience in a “cultural extravaganza”. Modi is slated to arrive at about 6pm.

“We will showcase India’s regional diversity and social inclusivity. There will be an integration of thousands of blue-collar workers from across the Emirates, weaving a rich tapestry of diversity and unity into the fabric of the event. The ‘Nari Shakti’ of the Indian community has shown overwhelming support and enthusiasm and registered in significant numbers and are actively promoting the event, embodying the spirit of women empowerment, communal harmony and participation,” she said.

PM Modi last held a big community event in the Dubai cricket stadium during his first visit to UAE in 2015, while the ‘Ahlan Modi’ event is expected to be bigger. “It is a community-driven event. Students from schools, colleges, and universities are joining in. Our local talent has produced the music for the event. We have 1500-plus volunteers…transport companies have come forward to free transport to bring diaspora members from across the UAE,” Singh said.

Celebrated as one of the most significant assemblies for Prime Minister Modi outside Indian borders, the gathering is a homage to “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” an Indian worldview that espouses global brotherhood. This event serves to affirm the rich cultural heritage and inclusiveness that epitomises the Indian diaspora, the organisers said in a video. This event is poised to be more than a mere assembly; it is on course to etch itself into history as an impactful and unforgettable occasion, they said.