A traditional G20 dinner is being hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday. File Photo.

At the conclusion of Day 1 of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, world leaders from at least 29 countries along with a host of other dignitaries started arriving at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi for the traditional G20 dinner, hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian President could be seen welcoming the delegates at the venue. A total of 170 guests are on the list of special invitees of the G20 dinner hosted by President Murmu. They welcomed the guests before the start of the dinner at a dais, with its backdrop depicting the ruins of the Nalanda University in Bihar and India’s G20 presidency theme — ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future’. Nalanda university, a UNESCO world heritage site in Bihar, was one of the oldest universities of the world.

Apart from foreign leaders and heads of states, chief ministers of all the states, cabinet and state ministers, secretaries in the Central government, and other distinguished guests have been invited to the gala dinner that is being held at the multi-function hall of the Bharat Mandapam on Saturday (September 9).

A three course meal including a lot millet dishes will be served to the world leaders at the G20 dinner hosted by president Murmu. Mumbai Pao will be served in breads. Apart from this, an ensemble of 50-60 artists will play Indian music in front of guests.

The newly built international convention and exhibition centre and its lush green lawns dazzled at night with colourful illumination while its fountains and the ‘Nataraja’ statue placed in front of the state-of-the-art building created a pretty sight.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director and Chairman Kristalina Georgieva, dressed in Indian traditional attire Salwar Kurta, World Bank President Ajay Banga and his wife Ritu Banga and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were among the first to arrive at the newly built convention centre in Pragati Maidan.

The event’s host, President Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar with his wife Sudesh Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former President Ram Nath Kovind, and former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will join the dinner party.