Australian PM attends Holi celebration in Ahmedabad, visits Sabarmati Ashram

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday visited the Sabarmati Ashram, a place closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, after arriving in Ahmedabad on his first India visit.

He landed at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in the city and headed straight to the Ashram, the former home of Mahatma Gandhi and a place linked with India's freedom struggle.

Albanese, who is on a four-day trip to India, was welcomed at the airport by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who also accompanied the visiting leader during the Ashram tour.

The Australian leader also attended a Holi programme at Raj Bhavan, as per schedule shared by authorities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive at around 8 pm. Both the prime ministers will watch the first day of the fourth cricket Test match between India and Australia beginning at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday.

On Wednesday, PM Modi said he is looking forward to deliberations with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese to further the friendship between the two countries.

Albanese is on a visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is accompanied by a delegation of ministers and business leaders during his four-day trip.

Tagging the Australian prime minister's tweet in which he said he is bringing a delegation of ministers and business leaders to India today, Modi tweeted, "India eagerly awaits your arrival! Looking forward to productive deliberations to further the India-Australia friendship."

Embarking on his first visit to India, Albanese said he was keen to further deepen Canberra's multifaceted relationship with New Delhi at a time of extraordinary growth and dynamism, especially in areas of trade, security and people-to-people links.

In Delhi, Albanese will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on March 10, 2023. Prime Minister Modi and his Australian counterpart will hold the Annual Summit to discuss areas of cooperation under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, besides regional and global issues of mutual interest.