New Delhi, Sept. 12: Foreign journalists attending the ongoing BRICS Summit in New Delhi have highlighted India’s hospitality, cultural diversity, food and pace of development, with several delegates describing their experience as comfortable and familiar despite visiting the country for the first time.
Melissa Hollow of TV BRICS Africa, who is visiting India for the first time, said her experience in New Delhi had been deeply positive. She said she visited temples and walked around the city before the summit, describing the environment as peaceful despite the large population.
Hollow said she did not feel lost during her stay because people were helpful and welcoming. She also spoke positively about Indian cuisine and said she appreciated the country’s culture.
Alyaa Mohamed Obaid Ali Al Dhanhani, a senior journalist with Khaleej Times, described India’s hosting of the BRICS Summit as well organised and also praised the hospitality extended during the visit.
Food emerged as another prominent feature of the visiting journalists’ experience. Shadrack Hollow of TV BRICS Africa, who arrived in India on September 8, said he found Indian cuisine tasty and colourful, singling out tandoori chicken as a particular favourite.
Another South African journalist also described the stay as comfortable and said the welcoming nature of people had made the visit enjoyable.
For Malaysian journalist Yasmin Natasha, who is also visiting India for the first time, the country’s economic and infrastructure growth stood out. She said India was developing rapidly, particularly in economic terms, while transportation infrastructure was also expanding.
Indonesian journalist Mega Mei Wahidawati drew attention to the historical and cultural links between India and Indonesia. She said she had learnt about Indian culture during the visit and noted similarities between the two countries, including Sanskrit influences.
Wahidawati also pointed to the similarities between the names of the currencies used by the two countries, the Indonesian rupiah and Indian rupee. She further noted the similarity between the names Indonesia and India.
The observations from journalists from Africa, West Asia and Southeast Asia offer a cross-section of experiences among international media representatives visiting India for the BRICS Summit, covering hospitality, cuisine, cultural connections and perceptions of the country’s development.
