Modi Inaugurates 2015 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas', Visits Dandi Kutir Exhibition [PHOTOS] [VIDEO]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the 13th edition of 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 

Over 4,000 delegates are attending the event that started on 7 January and ends on 9 January, according to IANS. 

Modi also visited the 'Dandi Kutir' exhibition in Mahatma Temple premises, Gandhinagar.

"'Dandi Kutir' with 3D mapping technology will be one of its rare kind of permanent exhibitions reminiscing Bapu's life – his works & ethics!," Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel tweeted.

Modi had earlier inaugurated the Salt Mountain, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi built near the Mahatma Mandir complex.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9 January every year since 2003 "to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India," says a PBD website release. 

January 9 is chosen for the celebration as "it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India's freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever," said the website. 

PBD is the world's largest annual gathering of Indian origin people "to connect India to its vast overseas diaspora and bring their knowledge, expertise and skills... These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities," it added.