Kuala Lumpur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim were accorded a vibrant reception at an Indian diaspora programme here on Saturday, marked by large-scale cultural performances featuring more than 800 artistes.

The performers presented a colourful blend of Indian classical and folk dance forms, including Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Yakshagana, Lavani and Odissi, celebrating India’s rich cultural diversity.

Modi and Ibrahim, who arrived at the venue together, were greeted with enthusiastic chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Modi, Modi” as they took the stage. Organisers announced that the mega dance presentation had earned a place in the Malaysian Book of Records for featuring the highest number of performers in an Indian dance event.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Ibrahim said he was delighted to welcome his “close friend from India” to Malaysia, recalling the deep historical and civilisational links between the two countries that predate formal diplomatic ties.

He noted that India is among Malaysia’s leading trading partners and highlighted the strong people-to-people connection, pointing out that over 1.5 million Indian tourists visited Malaysia in 2025.

“I am proud to be a personal friend of Prime Minister Modi and of India,” Ibrahim said.

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Prime Minister Modi arrived in Kuala Lumpur earlier on Saturday for a two-day visit and was personally received by Ibrahim at the airport. In a post on X, Modi expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and said he looked forward to strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.