US President Barack Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle, arrived here Sunday morning on a three-day India visit - his second in four years - during which he will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade Jan 26.
Breaking with protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received him at the VVIP terminal of the Indira Gandhi International Airport where both leaders greeted each other with a spontaneous hug .
As he alighted from his Air Force One presidential jet shortly after 9.45 a.m. local time, Modi, dressed in a beige Nehru jacket paired with a red shawl, welcomed Obama, wearing a dark suit, with a handshake and a hug. They kept clasping hands, chatting and joking like old friends.
The US president was accompanied by his wife Michelle, wearing a printed knee-length blue printed dress and teamed with a matching long jacket.
The arrival ceremony was surprisingly brief, the welcoming party made up only of Modi, minister-in-waiting Piyush Goyal and US ambassador Richard Verma.
The Obamas and Modi posed for the visual media and waved hands and the First Couple boarded The Beast, the presidential limousine, that was parked right across the red carpet for the drive to the ITC Maurya, where they will be staying during the visit.
Obama accorded ceremonial welcome, says it's an honour
US President Barack Obama, who was accorded a ceremonial red carpet welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan Sunday, said it's "a great honour" to be back in India.
"It's a great honour to be back in India. I am grateful for the extraordinary hospitality," Obama told reporters in the forecourt of the magnificent presidential palace where he was escorted by Wing Commander Puja Thakur as he inspected the tri-service guard of honour.
President's Bodyguard's mounted troops earlier escorted the US presidential motorcade that rolled in at 12.15 p.m. through the iron gates of the impressive presidential palace.
The 21-gun salute sounded as horses escorted The Beast - carrying the US president - down the path leading to the forecourt.
He was received by President Pranab Mukherjee dressed in a black bandgala suit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had changed into a light striped black bandgala suit from his morning attire of light cream-coloured kurta pyjama with beige Nehru jacket paired with a red shawl.
Obama chatted and laughed with Mukherjee and Modi before proceeding to a podium for the ceremonial welcome.
Obama, who is the first US president to be chief guest at India's Republic Day parade, walked along the red carpet to stand on a podium, covered by a red canvas top with gold trim.
The military band stretched in ranks before him as the national anthems of India and the US were played.
He then inspected the tri-service guard of honour.
Obama was introduced to union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Manohar Parrikar, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Nejeeb Jung, and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha.
Once again Obama exchanged pleasantries and warmly shook hands with Mukherjee and Modi.
He folded his hands together to say 'Namaste', the traditional Indian way of greeting, as he left for Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.
He was accompanied by union Minister Piyush Goyal.
Obama observed a moment of silence, and took a 'parikrama' around the memorial.
He placed a huge wreath and the paid floral tributes at the memorial.
US National Security Council tweets 'Jai Hind'
The US National Security Council Sunday tweeted "Jai Hind", saying that President Barack Obama is "honoured" to be back in India.
"President Obama is honoured to be back in India to celebrate Republic Day and to begin a new chapter in the US-India partnership. Jai Hind!" a tweet from the account of NSC Press, which is run by Obama's National Security Council (NSC).
The NSC is the principal forum used by the US president for considering national security and foreign policy matters.
The tweet was also retweeted by the Twitter handle of the White House.
US National Security Advisor Susan Rice, who is accompanying Obama to India, also posted a tweet saying "Jai Hind".
"Excited to be with President Obama in India to celebrate Republic Day - Jai Hind!" said her tweet.
"Jai Hind" is a slogan or battle cry dating back to India's freedom struggle.
