Lula Says He Was ‘Surprised and Moved’ by India’s Warm Cultural Welcome

New Delhi: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he was so touched by the musical tributes his hosts prepared and conveyed his sincere gratitude for the cultural hospitality shown to him during his trip to India.

During his remarks at the India-Brazil Economic Forum on Sunday, the President described how these actions were similar to a surprise he had planned for Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was in Brazil.

President Lula told

President Lula told the gathering in New Delhi, “I was surprised yesterday, at the state dinner and at lunch too.” We looked into the music that Prime Minister Modi liked the best on his visit to Brazil last year; I’m not sure if the Brazilian journalists recall this.

“We travelled to São Paulo to find a vocalist who could perform the song he appreciated the most. So we surprised him at the Palacio da Alvorada in Brazil, and it was clear that he was moved by the music we decided to play for him,’ he explained.

The President stated that the reciprocal gesture from the Indian side on Saturday made an indelible effect on him and his entourage, acting as a sad reminder of the hospitality he once gave to the Indian leader.

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During his formal engagements, he expressed his excitement in hearing familiar Brazilian melodies played by Indian musicians, bridging the geographical gap between the two countries through music.

“I was astonished yesterday when we started hearing a song during lunch. I saw that music had anything to do with us. Then they sang more songs by Brazilian songwriters. “They played Asa Branca,” President Lula stated.

The inclusion of Asa Branca, an iconic Brazilian folk song, highlighted the rising cultural synergy between the two countries as they aim to expand their strategic cooperation.

This cultural interchange serves as a backdrop to the trip’s more formal objectives, with President Lula’s visit on Sunday focusing on increasing economic ties and developing a shared vision for the Global South.

The visit bears great weight considering the frequency of high-level involvement; the Brazilian President landed in India on February 18 and attended the India AI Impact Summit from February 19 to 20.

This is Lula’s fifth visit to India as President of Brazil, cementing a connection that has grown rapidly in recent months.

Indeed, this visit comes just seven months after Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to Brasilia on July 8, 2025, indicating a period of considerable diplomatic engagement between the two allies.