PM Modi received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Mauritius. The island nation honoured him through a traditional Bihari cultural performance known as Geet Gawai. Mauritius, often called “Mini India’ shares deep-rooted cultural and ancestral ties with India. India and Mauritius are expected to ink a raft of agreements to strengthen bilateral relations during PM Modi’s two-day visit which began on Monday. He will also inaugurate over 20 India-funded projects, ranging from capacity building to community-linked infrastructure. The connection with Mauritius dates back to almost three decades ago even before he became the Prime Minister. PM Modi visited Mauritius to address the International Ramayana Conference in Moka, in October 1988. During the 1988 visit, PM Modi also engaged with key Mauritian leaders, including then-President Cassam Uteem, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Leader of the Opposition Anerood Jugnauth and Paul Raymond Bérenger, who later became Prime Minister of Mauritian. Mahatma Gandhi had briefly stopped in Mauritian on his way to India from South Africa in 1901. As a tribute to Gandhi, the National Day of Mauritius is celebrated on March 12, the date of his Dandi march.