Overview
- President Droupadi Murmu welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan during his short India visit.
- The dinner showcased an all-vegetarian spread featuring saffron pulao, moringa broth, Kashmiri morels, zaafrani paneer roll, tandoori bharwan aloo, and assorted regional breads and desserts.
- A live programme blended Indian classical ragas with Russian melodies, including Kalinka and an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, performed by the Rashtrapati Bhavan Naval Band and classical ensemble.
- The menu’s circulation on social media drew criticism from some users and Congress leader Karti Chidambaram over the absence of non-vegetarian dishes and alcoholic beverages.
- The visit concluded with an India–Russia joint declaration spanning politics, security, economy, energy and education, after which External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar saw Putin off in Delhi.