Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (September 12, 2026) welcomed BRICS leaders against a backdrop featuring Tamil Nadu’s iconic Ramanathaswamy temple, one of the Char Dham shrines where Lord Rama is believed to have performed puja after his victory over the demon king Ravana.
At Bharat Mandapam, where the 18th BRICS Summit is underway, the Prime Minister received the leaders of BRICS nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Rameswaram is a great pilgrimage destination not only for Saivites but also for Vaishnavites. Considered one of the most important religious duties of Hindus, the Kasi Rameswaram Yatra begins at Kasi and ends after worshipping Lord Ramanathaswamy in Rameswaram. As its very name implies, Rameswaram is the holy place of Lord Rameswara, i.e., Eswara (Shiva) consecrated by Lord Rama. It includes a busy schedule of bilateral diplomatic meetings at Hyderabad House followed by core multilateral sessions and a joint tree-planting ceremony at Bharat Mandapam.
Earlier reporting noted: 10:00 AM – Ethiopia diplomacy: The Prime Minister begins his diplomatic meetings at Hyderabad House by meeting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. Earlier reporting noted: 10:30 AM – Southeast Asia partners: The diplomatic meetings continue in the morning through the Prime Minister meeting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim followed by discussions with Vietnamese representative Le Minh Hung.
The historic shrine was under the care of a monk up to the 10th century A.D, according to a Tamil Nadu government website. Lord Rama arrived here along with Sita and Lakshman, and consecrated and worshipped the Shivalinga to expiate the sin of killing Ravana, who was a Brahmin, according to the Puranas. Earlier reporting noted: Behind closed doors and under storm skies: The full story of day one at the BRICS Summit BRICS Summit: Today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, will participate in the opening sessions of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
