NEW DEHLI — President Obama joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a lengthy celebration of India’s Republic Day on Monday in a symbolic series of events summarized by a long parade in cold rain.
Shielded partly by an umbrella, Obama sat attentively for more than two hours by Modi’s side, watching camels and dancers parade down Rajpath, a grand ceremonial boulevard in central New Delhi.
He listened as Modi explained the floats from each of the Indian states, nodding enthusiastically at the one from the prime minister’s home state of Gujarat.
The display of respect is the purpose of Obama’s trip. After years of rocky relations between their two countries, the White House is hoping that the growing personal warmth between the president and prime minister will turn into a more cooperative relationship between their governments.