Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in New Delhi on Monday and presented her with sacred water from the Ganga, collected during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.
The religious gathering, which concluded on 26 February, saw a record attendance of over 660 million people at the Triveni Sangam, making it the largest human congregation in the world.
In return, Gabbard gifted Modi a Tulsi Mala, a sacred garland of Tulsi beads that holds deep spiritual significance in Hinduism. Often associated with Lord Krishna, the beads are worn by devotees as a symbol of devotion and are believed to offer protection from negative energies and bad dreams.
This meeting followed Gabbard’s earlier discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Their talks in the national capital focused on security concerns, particularly the anti-India activities of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) operating on American soil.
As a practising Hindu, Gabbard has often spoken about her faith. In a past interview, she shared how she draws strength from the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, using them as a guide during both challenging and positive times.
Gabbard is currently on a two-and-a-half-day visit to India as part of a multinational tour. She arrived in New Delhi on Sunday and has engaged in discussions with Indian officials on intelligence cooperation, cybersecurity, and defence relations.
Her visit follows Modi’s trip to Washington in February, where he met Gabbard and praised her strong support for India-US relations.
During her stay, Gabbard attended high-level meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral security cooperation.
She also participated in a security conclave chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, where intelligence and security officials from around 20 countries gathered to discuss global security challenges.
The conclave, organised by the National Security Council Secretariat, has been held alongside the Raisina Dialogue since 2022.
This marks Gabbard’s second international visit since assuming office, following her participation in the Munich Security Conference in Germany.
Her engagements in India reflect a deepening strategic partnership between the two nations, focusing on intelligence-sharing and counterterrorism efforts.
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