PM Modi receives warm welcome from community in Melbourne, highlights deep India-Australia cultural bonds

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the Indian community upon his arrival in Melbourne on Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Australian leg of his three-nation Indo-Pacific tour.

The reception featured cultural performances celebrating the shared heritage and growing people-to-people ties between India and Australia; the Prime Minister described the welcome as “truly unforgettable.”

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Members of the Indian diaspora gathered in large numbers to greet Modi despite the cold Melbourne weather, underscoring the strong emotional connection between overseas Indians and their homeland. The Prime Minister acknowledged the gesture in a post on social media platform X.
“The weather in Melbourne may be cold but the warmth of the welcome from the Indian community was truly unforgettable. Their affection and unwavering bond with India continue to be a source of immense joy and pride,” Modi wrote.

The cultural programme included a performance by the Australian-India Orchestra, which presented the patriotic song Maa Tujhe Salaam. Praising the musicians, Modi said the performance showcased the power of music in bringing people together and reflected the enduring appeal of India’s cultural heritage across the world.

“The Australian-India Orchestra’s soulful presentation of ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’ was wonderful. It beautifully demonstrated how music strengthens the bonds between our people. My compliments to every member of the orchestra for this memorable performance,” he said.

The Prime Minister also noted that the rendition highlighted the global popularity of Vande Mataram, particularly as India marks the 150th anniversary of the iconic national song.

In another highlight of the evening, Modi witnessed a unique fusion performance featuring Australia’s ancient Didgeridoo and India’s classical Tabla. He described the collaboration as a symbol of the deep cultural connection between the two nations.

“Witnessed a truly exceptional musical performance featuring Australia’s ancient Didgeridoo and India’s Tabla. The harmony between these two timeless instruments beautifully reflected the deep cultural connect between our two nations,” he posted on X.

The Prime Minister also commended the artists behind the performance, saying, “Compliments to Mr. Ron Murray and Dr. Sam Evans for their dedication to preserving and celebrating musical traditions.”

The welcome ceremony also featured a Kathak recital, which Modi said reflected the growing popularity of Indian classical dance forms in Australia.
“Delighted to witness an outstanding Kathak performance during the welcome by the Indian community in Melbourne. Glad to see Indian dances becoming popular across Australia,” he said.

Modi arrived in Melbourne earlier in the day for a three-day official visit to Australia, the second leg of his three-nation Indo-Pacific tour after concluding a State Visit to Indonesia. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold the third India-Australia Annual Leaders’ Summit with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Discussions are expected to focus on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and expanding cooperation in trade, defence, critical minerals, education, clean energy, technology and regional security.

The visit comes at a time when India and Australia are deepening their strategic engagement under the framework of the Quad and enhancing collaboration across the Indo-Pacific. The Indian diaspora, one of the fastest-growing communities in Australia, has emerged as an important pillar of bilateral ties, contributing significantly to stronger cultural, educational and economic linkages between the two countries. The community reception in Melbourne served as an early demonstration of the vibrant people-to-people relationship that continues to underpin the expanding India-Australia partnership.