President Obama's private dinner for PM Modi may feature only vegetarian dishes

Washington:  It may be all vegetarian dishes and non-alcoholic drinks when President Barack Obama hosts a private dinner at the White House on Wednesday for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who himself will take only lime water.

According to sources, the Indian side had expressed a desire not to include non-vegetarian dishes during the private dinner keeping in mind sensitivities of the Prime Minister who is observing Navratri fasts. The request is being considered positively, as per US government sources.

64-year-old Modi, who arrived in the US on Friday has been observing Navratra fasts which started on September 25, has been only taking lukewarm lime water. Last week, the White House had said they respectfully accommodate the practices of visiting guests.

“As with all guests hosted by US Presidents over the years, we always work to respectfully accommodate the practices of our visitors,” said Caitlin Hayden, spokesperson of the National Security Council.

Navratri, derived from the ancient Sanskrit words ’nine nights’, fell this year from September 25 to October 3. Modi has been keeping the fast for many years during Navratri.

Obama and Modi are meeting for the first time tonight and will hold bilateral talks tomorrow at the White House. Modi had said he will discuss with Obama how Indo-US ties can be taken to a “new level” in the interest of the two countries as well as of the world. He had also called the US as India’s “vital partner” for its national development.

PTI