WASHINGTON: On the second leg of his maiden state visit to the United States Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington DC from New York and received an official State Arrival Ceremony at the White House.

As he arrived at the South Lawn of the White House he was welcomed warmly by US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reciprocated by PM Modi with his customary hugs and crip handshakes. There was loud cheering and applause for Modi from a large Indo-American crowd of roughly about 2000 which had been allowed inside the White House to witness the ceremonial welcome being given to PM Modi. 

During the wait for PM Modi to arrive, students of the University of Pennsylvania said to be from a group called 'Penn Masala' sang renditions of popular Bollywood songs like 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' and 'Jashn e Bahaaraa' from the White House stairways.

After he had arrived and both the leaders first introduced their respective state heads to each other, then the national anthems of both countries were played following which PM Modi was greeted with a marching band and was accorded a 21-gun salute to Modi on the South Lawn. 

Speaking during his welcome, PM Modi said, "The welcome is an honour and pride for the 1.4 billion people of India and for the 4 million Indian-Americans living in the US," while President Biden said that the bilateral relationship and why it is important for not only India, the US and the rest of the world as well.

PM Modi and Biden will have a one-on-one meeting in the Oval Office of the White House before holding delegation-level talks. Later in the day is slated to address the joint session of the US Congress and President Biden and the First Lady will host a state dinner which is expected to be attended by 400 guests.

PM Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of President Biden and First Lady Jill.

On the first leg of his visit from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and the First Lady, PM Modi led a historic event at the UN Headquarters where yoga enthusiasts from nearly 135 countries joined him to create a new Gunissses book record.