A ‘shobha yatra’ or public procession in Jaipur is expected to be the highpoint of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the pink city. Upon arriving in Jaipur on Thursday afternoon, he will visit the Amber fort and the Jantar Mantar — both iconic tourist destinations of Rajasthan — before proceeding for the ‘shobha yatra’ with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders will then meet in the evening at Taj Rambagh Palace. Mr. Macron will be accompanied by a ministerial delegation comprising of Stephane Sejourne (Europe and Foreign Affairs), Sebastien Lecornu (Armed Forces) and Rachida Dati (culture). That apart, there will be a major business delegation from France that will accompany him.
Jaipur has been chosen by the Indian hosts as the first stopover for the French President who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade here on January 26. In terms of symbolism, the ‘shobha yatra’ is an innovation in hospitality during the annual celebrations. The French usually like to showcase regions of India with which they have old connections. In 2016, during the visit of President Francois Hollande, Chandigarh because of its Le Corbusier connection was chosen as a venue outside Delhi where Mr. Modi and Mr. Hollande had met. But the ‘shobha yatra’ in Jaipur, with its scope of public viewing adds a new dimension to the Republic Day events.
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