A red carpet for visiting dignitaries is so passé. India rolled out a red-pink-green-orange-blue-purple-magenta Qutub Minar which led many to wonder, is Incredible India now Blingy Bharat? Judging by the images coming out of the G20 summit, that seems to be the official national aesthetic. In fact, Blingy Bharat has a nice ring to it.
The Qutub Minar was at least not physically harmed by the lights projected on it. Some other old monuments were less lucky, according to the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH). INTACH complains calligraphy has been plastered over one while another monument has sprouted a new roof. There were news videos of the visiting leader of Oman looking somewhat bemused as a bevy of folk dancers suddenly burst into hip-shaking jhatkas. The Argentine President encountered a chorus line of young women dancing to a Carnatic remix of Ed Sheeran.
Joe Biden also got treated to Sheeran’s ‘The Shape of You’, while Rishi Sunak got a taste of Bolly-Bihu. It was like IPL cheerleading came to G20 dressed as folk dances of India. Others, too, got into the act to showcase the best diversity the country could offer. A restaurant somewhere in Delhi covered their political bases and advertised a Biden Tandoori Malai Broccoli (₹1,275) and a Trump Half-Tandoori chicken (₹1,375).
