BackObama, Michelle shake a leg with students at Mumbai school
Obama, Michelle shake a leg with students at Mumbai school
PremiumPresident Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance with students during a celebration of Diwali at Holy Name High School in Mumbai on Sunday. Charles Dharapak/ AP photo
Mumbai: US first couple Barack and Michelle Obama on Sunday hit the dance floor to a foot-tapping Marathi folk number, joining a group of students at a school here to participate in symbolic Diwali festivities.
The US President and the First Lady’s engagement for the day started at the Holy Name High School in upmarket Colaba locality in south Mumbai where a group of students entertained them with a cultural extravaganza.
The Obamas, who lit a lamp to mark the celebrations, were greeted by the students in traditional Indian attire as they interacted with the children, shaking hands and posing for pictures. The students were seen gleefully clicking the couple’s photos using cellphone cameras.
The cheering and clapping Obamas seemed so charmed by the tune and the performance of the children during the Koli dance -- which gives expression to the culture and identity of Maharashtrian fisherfolk -- that they joined the students and danced with them.
At first, it was Michelle who showed her dancing skills by matching the steps with the children. Later, the children took Obama to the floor to shake a leg. The couple posed for a number of a photographs with the children and gave autographs.
Salman Khurshid, minister of state for corporate affairs and minister-in-waiting for Obama, was seen explaining the significance of performances to the US President.
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