Bissessar, who was the first to be awarded with the 'Pravasi' medallion and a citation by the President, made hundreds of NRIs and PIOs remember their traditional roots as she bent down to touch the feet of Patil who immediately held her by her shoulders and hugged her in a gesture of blessing.
A number of Overseas delegates broke into thunderous applause and were seen wiping tears trickling down the cheeks when they saw the gesture.
"It is like a daughter meeting her mother...she did the gesture with so much humility and displaying her Indian roots," a NRI from Canada said.
Bissessar's family hails from Bihar before they migrated to the Caribbean nation.
Bissessar, who is also the chief guest of the three-day event being held here, announced to the crowd that she made it a point to wear a traditional Rajasthani saree and decked up with jewellery, 'bindi' and vermilion, the way married Indian women dress.
"I asked a local resident present in my security detail to suggest me a Rajasthani dress. ..this is what I was suggested and I am wearing," Bissessar said, drawing even a big applause from Patil.
Patil, in her speech, made a special mention of Bissessar and said "somebody very close has come (to meet us).
"She has become the first woman Prime Minister of her country... it is an achievement that the world-wide Indian community applauds and I thank her for coming all the way to be with us," Patil said.
Patil, who honoured 14 other NRIs/PIOs along with Bissessar, pinned the special 'Pravasi' badge on the Prime Minister who greeted her with a traditional 'Namaste'.
(More stories on the PM's India visit below)
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