The 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas today began at Gandhingar in Gujarat. Inaugurating the three-day event, External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said it is the most significant example of India’s soft power abroad.

She said India will always consider pravasis as one of it own, regardless of the colour of their passports or land of their citizenship. Mrs Swaraj said global Indians come, connect, celebrate, contribute and become a part of momentous transformation taking place in the country.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is the world's largest annual gathering of people of Indian origin aimed at enhancing networking and reinforcing the economic and cultural bonding.

There are an estimated 25 million people of Indian origin residing outside India. India is also the single largest recipient of remittances from abroad at 70 billion dollars.