Mumbai gears up to welcome Obama

MUMBAI. November 3. AKZINFORM Students of the Holy Name School in Colaba are gearing up to welcome US President Barack Obama when he visits the school during his two-day stay in Mumbai. The children are doing rehearsal of the Maharashtra fishermen folk dance to be presented during Obama and his wife Michelle's visit, Kazinform refers to Arab News.

Father Michael Pinto, the principal of the school said: "We are extremely glad that the US president has selected our school for a visit during his stay in Mumbai."

Students will welcome him with a Koli (fishermen) folk dance when he visits the school Sunday morning, Father Pinto said. After the dance, Obama will interact with the students. The school has 60 percent Hindu students, 35 percent Muslim students and 5 percent Christians, he added.

Obama will land in Mumbai in the morning on Nov. 6 although the exact time of his arrival is being kept secret. On arrival he will proceed to the Taj Hotel in south Mumbai and interact with select few people who were witness to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He will then pay tributes to the martyrs who were killed in the terror attack. The Maharashtra government wanted the US president to visit the martyrs' memorial in Mahim suburb, but the US authorities rejected the request citing security reasons and said the function would be held at the Taj Hotel.

After the function at Taj, Obama and his entourage will visit the Mumbai home of Mahatma Gandhi, which has been turned into a Museum and pay tribute to him. After the visit, Obama will wind up his program for the day.

On Saturday, Obama and his delegation will meet Indian businessmen at a function jointly organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce Industry at the Taj Hotel. The evening itinerary of the US president and his delegation has not been disclosed yet, Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version.