Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Uzbekistan, attended a yoga programme organised by the 'Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan' in Tashkent on Sunday.
He also shared visuals of the special welcome accorded to him upon his arrival in the Uzbek capital on the X platform.
Earlier on August 15, in his Independence Day address to the nation, PM Modi said India's 'soft power' is the seventh strength of Saptadhara, highlighting Yoga, handicrafts, films, animation, gaming, digital content and the broader creative sector as key strengths.
He landed in Tashkent on Saturday for his fourth visit to the Central Asian nation.
Later in the day, PM Modi will hold delegation-level talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Upon his visit, landmark buildings across the Uzbek capital, including the iconic Hilton Hotel, were lit in the vibrant tricolour hues of the Indian national flag on Saturday.
The Prime Minister was received with high energy and intense enthusiasm by members of the Indian diaspora, who hosted a cultural welcome featuring traditional dance performances and a fusion of Indian and Uzbek traditions.
Reflecting on the event, PM Modi lauded the artistry on X, highlighting performances by the Bollywood Battle Group to 'Ude Jab Jab Zulfein Teri,' a fusion of Kathak with the energetic Andijan Polka, and a Kathak presentation by students of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture.
He said, "The community welcome in Tashkent was a delightful celebration of India-Uzbekistan cultural ties! It included a performance by the Bollywood Battle Group on the evergreen 'Ude Jab Jab Zulfein Teri,' a fusion of Kathak and the energetic Andijan Polka, Kathak performance by students of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture."
PM Modi also laid a wreath at Yangi Uzbekistan Park. During the wreath-laying ceremony, he was accompanied by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will also hold delegation-level talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The two leaders will review cooperation in trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people domains and set the agenda for the road ahead.
This marks PM Modi's fourth visit to Uzbekistan, following previous diplomatic engagements in 2015, alongside subsequent visits in 2016 and 2022 to attend SCO Summits.
Bilateral and multilateral cooperation between New Delhi and Tashkent has expanded steadily over the years, highlighted by President Mirziyoyev's State Visit to India in 2018 and his participation in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in 2019.
From Tashkent, at the invitation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Zhaparov, PM Modi will travel to Bishkek to participate in the 26th SCO Summit, marking 25 years of this important organisation.
With inputs from ANI