Aarti in Varanasi, hand painting and sand art: How India is gearing up to welcome Vladimir Putin

During his tightly packed itinerary, Putin will hold the 23rd India-Russia summit with PM Modi. Modi will also host a private dinner for Putin on Thursday.

Updated on: Dec 4, 2025, 17:08:30 IST

By HT News Desk

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The stage is set for Russian President Vladimir Putin's high-stakes visit to India on Thursday, where he will hold crucial meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expand the eight-decade-long ties with New Delhi. President Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi at around 6:35 pm on Thursday — his first trip to India in more than four years.

People walk past a hoarding installed outside Hyderabad House to welcome Russia's President Vladimir Putin to India on his visit, in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo) (Sathiya)

The tightly packed 27-hour engagement, which includes meeting with PM Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, holds greater significance for the time-tested partners as the two sides are expected to discuss trade, crude oil and defence agreements.

Also Read: Putin arrives in India today: Su-57 jets, bilateral trade among topics on agenda; dinner planned with PM Modi

During his stay, Putin will attend a private dinner with PM Modi, accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and visit Rajghat on Friday morning.

Ahead of Putin’s Delhi trip — a visit being watched closely in Western capitals — preparations are in full swing to roll out a grand welcome for the Russian president.

‘Aarti’, sand art and handmade painting

Ahead of Putin's visit, the preparations and ritual welcome were not just limited to Delhi. In Varanasi, some residents performed a ritual 'aarti' for a framed portrait of the Russian leader.

A group also organised an "India-Russia Friendship March" in Varanasi to welcome Putin. The march began from Subhash Bhavan and concluded at the Munshi Premchand Smriti Gate. The participants carried posters of PM Modi and Putin and raised slogans — "Bharat-Russia sambandh zindabad", "Bharat-Russia ki dosti" and "World needs India-Russia friendship".

Also Read: Ending Ukraine war 'difficult work', says Putin after meeting with Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner

In Amritsar, Jagjot Singh, a painter, drew a portrait of the Russian leader using acrylic colours in a display of respect.

Meanwhile, in Odisha's Puri, internationally-acclaimed sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo made a sand animation of Putin to mark his visit to India.

Agenda of Putin's visit

During tightly packed itinerary, Putin will hold the 23rd India-Russia summit with Prime Minister Modi. The agenda includes boosting defence cooperation, energy ties, small modular reactors and the impact of Western sanctions on oil trade.

PM Modi will host a private dinner for Putin on Thursday and a working luncheon on Friday. The Russian leader is also scheduled to visit Rajghat and attend a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

Both sides are expected to ink several agreements across trade, defence and labour mobility, amid global attention on the Ukraine conflict and India's call for dialogue and diplomacy.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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