National Celebrations of March 12: Narendra Modi, Chief Guest, in Mauritius early on the morning of the 11th

The official program for the National Day celebrations on March 12, commemorating the 57th anniversary of Mauritius' independence and the 33rd anniversary of the Republic, was finalized during the Cabinet meeting held yesterday. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, will be the Chief Guest at the official events, which will be held under the theme "As One People, As One Nation."

The flag-raising ceremony will take place at Champ-de-Mars at noon, with the events starting at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, March 12. The program will also include a segment of cultural and artistic performances.

Arrival of Narendra Modi

The Indian Prime Minister, traveling aboard a Special Flight, will be welcomed early on Tuesday morning, at 6 AM, at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. He will be welcomed with honors appropriate to his rank by the Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, members of the government, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, and other state dignitaries.

Narendra Modi will inspect a guard of honor composed of members of the Special Mobile Force (SMF), other police units, and the National Coast Guard. The parade will be commanded by Superintendent Gopy of the SMF.

The official delegation will be staying at The Oberoi in Balaclava. The State Visit will last until March 12, with the departure scheduled for 2:20 PM after the official ceremony at Champ-de-Mars. Narendra Modi will also hold a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam to discuss matters of mutual interest, including the Chagos Deal and international developments.

State Banquet and Other Engagements

Available information suggests that the State Banquet for the National Day celebrations will be held on the evening of March 11 at Le Méridien Hotel. On the same day, the Chief Guest will pay respects and lay wreaths at the samadhis in the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden in Pamplemousses. He will also be received at the State House, Réduit, by the President of the Republic, Dharam Gokhool, for lunch at midday on Tuesday, before attending a Community Event at the Trianon Convention Centre.

A working session with government members at the Government House is also planned for the morning of March 12. The agenda includes the exchange of bilateral agreements and the inauguration of bilateral projects, such as the Civil Service College jointly with Navin Ramgoolam at Côte d'Or, just before proceeding to Champ-de-Mars.

Meetings with Local Leaders

In the morning of March 12, Narendra Modi will also receive courtesy visits from national leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition, Joe Lesjongard, the former Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, and the leader of the PMSD, Xavier-Luc Duval.

Celebrations in Rodrigues

Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Republic, Robert Hungley, will visit Rodrigues as the Chief Guest at the official events organized by the Executive Council of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly on March 12.

Preparations and Public Arrangements

In Mauritius, rehearsals for the March 12 ceremony are intensifying, with the weekend set aside for organizers to finalize details, particularly for the cultural and artistic segments and security arrangements, given the presence of the Indian Prime Minister at Champ-de-Mars.

Special measures will also be implemented to enable Mauritians to attend the official ceremony and cultural show. Bus and metro fares will be half-price for the public, starting two hours before and ending two hours after the celebrations. These discounts will apply to both the outbound and return trips to Champ-de-Mars. Additionally, children under 13 will travel for free during the same period and on the same routes.