Over 100 floral baskets have been hung from road posts. (Press Trust of India photo)
New Delhi:
In the Delhi winter sun, hordes of flowers - some brought in from cities like Shimla and Bangalore - are on proud display for the city's VVIP visitors.
Along the routes that President Barack Obama and wife Michelle drive down in the Beast, their heavily-fortified limousine, 70 signboards with flowers as their sole components are transmitting signs of Indo-US closeness. One shows the flags of the two countries; another pairs the national birds of the peacock and the eagle.
21 flower fountains and 16 oversized animal figures have been installed for the Beast's journey to Rashtrapati Bhawan, a journey the Obamas will make twice today, first for a reception and later tonight for a banquet in their honour.
Over 100 floral baskets have been hung from road posts.
The Obamas will leave Delhi on Tuesday after POTUS completes a packed agenda that includes serving as Chief Guest at tomorrow's Republic Day parade and bilateral talks that are likely to throw up a breakthrough in the stalled nuclear energy deal between India and the US.