New Delhi, Sep 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday welcomed several world leaders at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the venue of the 18th BRICS Summit, with the iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, providing the backdrop for the high-level gathering.
PM Modi warmly received Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other visiting leaders ahead of the Summit.
During the welcome ceremony, Modi was seen briefly explaining the significance of the temple depicted in the backdrop to Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also interacted with several other leaders and highlighted the cultural importance of the landmark.
The Ramanathaswamy Temple, situated on Rameswaram's Pamban Island in Tamil Nadu, is among India's most revered Hindu pilgrimage sites. It is also one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The temple is renowned for its magnificent corridors, intricate architectural features and distinctive rituals. It is widely regarded as a symbol of devotion, India's rich cultural heritage and centuries-old history.
The temple also occupies a significant place in Hindu tradition because of its association with the Ramayana. Rameswaram is considered an important pilgrimage destination and is traditionally linked with purification and spiritual transformation.
India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13, bringing together leaders from BRICS member and partner countries as well as outreach invitees.
India's BRICS Chairship is guided by the theme, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," reflecting Prime Minister Modi's vision of a people-centric approach rooted in the spirit of "Humanity First," according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Addressing the opening BRICS session on "Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism" in New Delhi, Modi welcomed the participating leaders and underlined the people-centric and humanity-first approach adopted by India during its BRICS Chairship.
"Resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability have been our priorities," Modi said, stressing that India had placed special emphasis on connecting BRICS cooperation with ordinary citizens.
He highlighted the extensive engagement undertaken during India's Chairship, noting that more than 350 meetings had been organised across approximately 30 cities. The meetings provided opportunities for teams from member and partner countries to participate in discussions and strengthen cooperation across various sectors.
The Prime Minister further emphasised that BRICS has developed a distinct identity on the global stage. He said the grouping is not directed against any country or bloc and should continue moving forward with an approach that takes everyone along.
Modi also called for establishing a "BRICS Continuity and Implementation" mechanism to ensure greater continuity in the grouping's work and strengthen the implementation of decisions taken under successive presidencies.
He said such an institutional mechanism would help maintain momentum and ensure that the cooperation developed during one Chairship continues effectively into the next, reinforcing BRICS as an important platform for dialogue and multilateral cooperation.
