The 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas- a three day event begins at Gandhingar in Gujarat today. External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj along with Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel will inaugurate the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on the first day today.

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.

The prestigious annual event of Indian Diaspora will formally be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. The Prime Minster will also inaugurate Dandi Kutir- a permanent exhibition on life and message of Mahatma Gandhi at Mahatma Mandir Gandhinagar on tomorrow. Vice President Hamid Ansari will be present at the closing ceremony on 9th January and present the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards.

The Chief Guest of the event will be Guyana President Donald Ramotar. He is also to be presented the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians and people of Indian origin. South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is also attending the event to mark Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa 100 years ago. Gujarat is the partner country for the event. Other states participating in the event are Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, Kerala and Nagaland.