Modi’s Swearing-In: Guests to Be Served Dal Raisina, Paneer Tikka

“This is for the first time that 8,000 guests will be attending the swearing-in ceremony,” an official said.

File photo of PM-designate Narendra Modi.

(File Photo: AP)  

The highest ever number of guests – 8,000, including VVIPs – will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his council of ministers on Thursday, 30 May.

"This is for the first time that 8,000 guests will be attending the swearing-in ceremony that will be held from 7 pm to 8:30 pm," Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson Ashok Malik told news agency PTI on Wednesday. About 4,500-5,000 guests have attended such ceremonies earlier.

Here is all you need to know about the mega event:

• The swearing-in ceremony – the biggest event held in Rashtrapati Bhavan – will be around 90 minutes long.
• After the swearing-in, dinner will be served to around 40 dignitaries, including Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and the prime minister, besides leaders of all BIMSTEC countries, PTI quoted a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson as saying.
• Rashtrapati Bhavan kitchen's speciality 'Dal Raisina' will be served to foreign delegates at the dinner to be hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind. The dinner will begin at 9 pm.
• There will be light snacks like Paneer Tikka for the guests attending the ceremony, an official told PTI.
• Leaders of all BIMSTEC countries, except Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina, have confirmed their participation in the prime minister's swearing-in ceremony.
• Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov have confirmed their participation at the event as well. From Thailand, its Special Envoy Grisada Boonrach will represent the country at the ceremony.

• Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, besides former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are also expected to attend the event, PTI quoted party sources as saying.