Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens as Democrat and Senate majority leader Steny Hoyer speaks at the Howdy, Modi! event in Houston’s NRG Stadium on September 22, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens as Democrat and Senate majority leader Steny Hoyer speaks at the Howdy, Modi! event in Houston’s NRG Stadium on September 22, 2019. Photo: YouTube/Howdy Modi!

The three-hour “Howdy, Modi!” event in which President Donald Trump will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi is organised at the sprawling NRG Football Stadium, one of the largest in the US, with an impressive history of shows that starred Beyonce, Metallica, U2.

Earlier, Mr. Modi was accorded a warm welcome by members of the Indian community as he arrived at the “dynamic and energetic city” of Houston for the mega “Howdy Modi” event.

The “Howdy Modi” event is the largest gathering ever for an elected foreign leader visiting the U.S., other than the Pope.

“Howdy Houston! It’s a bright afternoon here in Houston. Looking forward to a wide range of programmes in this dynamic and energetic city today and tomorrow,” Mr. Modi tweeted soon after he landed at the George Bush International Airport.

Here are the live updates:

The NRG Stadium in Houston is packed to capacity for the Howdy, Modi! event on September 22, 2019. Photo: YouTube/Howdy Modi!
The NRG Stadium in Houston is packed to capacity for the Howdy, Modi! event on September 22, 2019. Photo: YouTube/Howdy Modi!

Modi Presented Key To Houston


Mr. Modi has arrived at the stage to a rousing welcome and chants of “Modi, Modi”. He shares stage with 24 U.S. lawmakers and a Governor. Most of the lawmakers are Republican, with the exception of Shiela Lee Jackson and Steny Hoyer. Organisers had been worried that President Trump's appearance is keeping Democrats away, and the 24 lawmakers present (and 1 Governor) is less than the 35 that had been expected.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a Congressional delegation at the NRG Stadium in Houston for the Howdy, Modi! event on September 22, 2019. Photo: YouTube/Howdy Modi!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a Congressional delegation at the NRG Stadium in Houston for the Howdy, Modi! event on September 22, 2019. Photo: YouTube/Howdy Modi! 

Woven: Showcasing The Multiplicity of Indian-American Experience


The 90-minute music, dance, and multimedia show, titled Woven, features close to 400 artists and community members from Texas and across the nation.

There are 27 groups performing in a live and multimedia experience that will showcase the diversity in the Indian-American community, organisers said.

“A challenge that many second and third generation Indian-Americans go through is navigating the complexity of having a hyphenated identity as an Indian and an American. Woven showcases the multiplicity of Indian-American experience. Our hope is that each person sees themselves in at least one form of expression and recognises that whatever mix of Indian and American they are, it is just right,” said Heena Patel, CEO of MELA Arts Connect and co-producer of the programme.