India, March 29 -- Coloured displays, huge cut-outs of the Prime Minister and cultural performances dotted the Noida International Airport on Saturday to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of the airport's first phase.

Conch blowers from Kanpur, drummers and dancers from Mahoba, and trumpet players from various parts of Uttar Pradesh added to the celebratory mood at the venue. Many people, of a crowd estimated at around 150,000, were seen arriving carrying the national flag, while some also held Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) flags.

The theme of the events, according to Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh Thakur, was "Brij", citing Jewar as a part of the region with distinct traits linked to the Hindu deity Lord Krishna. Devo...