Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the inauguration of the Hannover Messe industrial fair

"The lions are a symbol of a new India. They roar; but with a message of friendship and promise of partnership, from 1.25 billion people of India. This is also the message of our states, 120 CEOs and 400 companies from India participating in this Fair. Your choice of India as a Partner Country reflects the new confidence in India", thus spoke our PM Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the Hannover Messe industrial fair, the largest of its kind in the world, on Sunday April 12, 2015.

He was joined by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel in throwing open the fair. India is the official partner this year at the fair and over 400 exhibitors from India are showcasing their products and ideas to the world from the Hannover fair ground.

Modi was accompanied by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

The inaugural ceremony saw an enthralling performance by Indian dancers portraying Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odisi, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, and Manipuri along with intriguing yoga postures.

The audience, comprising CEOs of top German and Indian companies, sat spellbound as the dancers performed their dance moves in tandem with a changing backdrop showing the places of origin of the dance forms.

After the ‘swagatam' or welcome, which encompassed the two-minute performance, the stage went dark and a large virtual lion emerged. The audience applauded and whistled in appreciation as the Indian lion, signifying a new and confident India, appeared to walk among the audience, stopped, threw back its head, and roared. Finally, it leapt through a virtual screen and merged with the Make in India lion made of nuts, bolts, and wheels.

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