New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a handcrafted sandalwood box to US President Joe Biden, in his first state visit to the US.

The sandalwood box contains a silver idol of Lord Ganesha and a diya (oil lamp) and a lab-grown 7.5 carat green diamond to First Lady Jill Biden. PM Modi was greeted with a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour at the Andrews Air Base.

U.S President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed Modi to a White House decorated with peacocks and lotus blooms and hosting a vegetarian dinner on Thursday.

He will hold a series of meetings with another group of industry leaders and CEOs today. Among those PM Modi will meet are Micron’s CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, GE chief H Lawrence Culp Jr and Chief of Applied Materials Gary Dickerson names that have raised speculation about big announcements on Thursday.

Modi will address a joint-sitting of the US Congress in the evening. This will be his second address to a joint-sitting a first for an Indian and a rare honour for world leaders.