President’s banquet for Chief Justice Khanna featured cultural and culinary delights from Western India
President Droupadi Murmu held a luncheon at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday to honor recently sworn-in Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. The meal included western Indian cuisine and culture.
The dinner tables were decorated with vibrant table runners that included traditional fabrics such as Maharashtra’s Paithani and Gujarat’s Patola, and were named after famous hills in western states. The lively surroundings provide a beautiful background for the festivities that evening.
In addition to enjoying a variety of local specialties, guests enjoyed a musical performance that included traditional Rajasthani folk songs. Using uncommon instruments like the ravanhatha, kamaicha, and khanjari, the Rashtrapati Bhavan naval band performed songs like “Kesariya Balam Aaoni Padharo Mare Desh” with the help of special guests.
Popular folk forms like as Maand, Ghoomar, Panihari, and Pabuji ka Phad were performed; these styles are based on storytelling that draws inspiration from local mythology, heroic stories, and village life.
Such cultural exhibits, according to authorities, are a part of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s continuous endeavor to present India’s rich cultural legacy at ceremonial events.
Several Supreme Court judges and High Court chief justices attended the gala meal, along with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
On Monday, Justice Khanna, who took over from Justice Chandrachud, heard 45 cases to start his term. He was greeted warmly by prominent individuals, including former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, and thanked attorneys and bar leaders for their good wishes.
Before his tenure as Chief Justice expires in May 2025, Sanjiv Khanna said that his goals are to reduce the backlog of cases in the highest court, make litigation more affordable, expedite trial times, and streamline judicial processes.
