At Piarco International Airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted by a ceremonial Guard of Honour to kick off his first official visit to Trinidad & Tobago. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, joined by 38 ministers and four parliamentarians, warmly received PM Modi upon his arrival. In a meaningful cultural exchange, he gifted her a handcrafted model of the Ram Mandir along with holy water from the Sangam and Saryu Rivers—tokens of blessing from the sacred Mahakumbh festival on Thursday, July 3, 2025 (local time).
Respecting Shared Heritage and Cultural Roots
While speaking to the Indian community in Trinidad & Tobago, PM Modi underlined Bihar’s cultural richness and historical depth. He also warmly praised the resilience and spirit of the Indian diaspora, affectionately calling Kamla Persad-Bissessar the “daughter of Bihar” in recognition of her ancestral roots in the Indian state.
He fondly recalled that her ancestral roots trace back to Buxar in Bihar and noted that she had personally visited her native village, Bhelupur, located in the Itarhi block of Buxar district, during her 2012 trip to India. As a sign of the two countries’ spiritual ties, PM Modi asked that the Ganga Dhara (Ganga stream) in Trinidad and Tobago be offered the sacred waters of the Saryu River and the Mahakumbh.
Addressing the populace, PM Modi stated,
As many of you are aware, earlier this year saw the Mahakumbh, the biggest religious assembly in the world. It was an honour for me to carry some of that holy water. I respectfully ask Kamla ji to supply the Ganga stream with water from the Saryu River and the Mahakumbh.
A Historical and Diplomatic Visit
This is the first time an Indian prime minister has visited Trinidad & Tobago bilaterally since 1999, and it is PM Modi’s first visit to the nation in his new role as prime minister. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar invited the trip to take place.
About 45% of Trinidad and Tobago’s population is of Indian descent, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Randhir Jaiswal, who underlined the close and long-standing relations between India and the Caribbean country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in the capital of Trinidad & Tobago, marking the beginning of his landmark visit to the Caribbean nation. PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her cabinet colleagues met him at the airport, Jaiswal said.
He went on to say,
Since this is the first prime ministerial visit to India in 26 years, it is a historic occasion. Nearly 45% of Trinidad and Tobago’s 1.3 million population traces its roots back to India.
Jaiswal added that the bulk of the nation’s Indian-origin population may trace their ancestry to the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The majority of them are from districts like Chhapra, Ara, Ballia, Siwan, Gopalganj, Varanasi, and Azamgarh that speak Bhojpuri.
In addition to being close, India and Trinidad & Tobago share unique ties. The Indo-Trinidadian community is largely descended from culturally diverse areas of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,” he continued.