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Time of India
22-04-2025
- Time of India
Vances have an immersive Raj experience at Amber Fort
Jaipur: Bejewelled elephants, folk artistes draped in traditional Rajputi and Kalbelia dresses, and musicians, along with vibrant rangolis, created a ceremonial atmosphere as they greeted US Vice President JD Vance , his wife Usha, and their three children – Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel – Tuesday morning at the Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site . Inside the 16th-century hill fort, the Vances visited Mansingh Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Khush Niwas, and Diwan-e-Aam, spending almost an hour and a half before heading back to their hotel in the city, 11km away. At the fort, chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and deputy CM Diya Kumari welcomed the Vances amidst a vibrant air of the welcome drum beating and melodious sound of the shehnai. As they walked on the red carpet to the fort, folk artistes performing Ghoomar, Kalbelia, and Kachi Ghodi dances welcomed them. The Vice President paused and took his time to thank them graciously. Madan Singh Shekhawat, one of the three tour guides assigned to escort the family during the visit, said, "Most visitors, including the state dignitaries, to Amber Fort complete the tour in an hour. But JD Vance and his family spent 1.30 hours, which showed that they liked the experience." Vance, along with his children, spent time with the caparisoned elephants Chanda and Pushpa, as they welcomed them. Shekhawat said Vance explained about the elephants to his curious sons. "As the elephants welcomed them with their gestures, Vance took quite a few minutes to have a better look at the animal and explain about it to his sons. He was seen answering a few queries from both children as well," said Shekhawat. Inside the fort, he was welcomed by folk artists playing instruments like Ravanhatta (a stringed instrument), shehnai, and flutes. Officials accompanying the VP in the fort said he seemed to have liked the Sheesh Mahal the most as he spent more time there. "It seemed as if he knew everybody as he waved to and thanked everybody while leaving," Shekhawat said.
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Elephants in silver ornaments, folk dancers welcome Vance family to Amber Fort as US Vice President goes sightseeing in Jaipur
When the people of Hathi Gaon in Jaipur heard they were about to host US Vice President J D Vance, they knew exactly what to do – bring out the silver ornaments famously used when former US President Bill Clinton was in town 25 years ago. Vance, his wife Usha, and their three children visited Amber Fort, about 10 km from Jaipur city, on Tuesday morning. There, they were greeted by two elephants – Chanda and Pushpa – adorned with the silver ornaments. The ornaments inclduded paajeb (anklets), kantha (necklace), mukut (head piece), kangoje (earrings), sher ki jhool (silver embroidered cloth covering the elephant) and audha (the seat on the elephant), said Ballu Khan, president of Hathi Gaon development committee and one of the mahouts of the elephants. Hathi Gaon is an area near Amber Fort where elephants are housed and cared for. 'These ornaments are taken out only on special occasions on the requests of the government. These are ornaments that are provided to us by the former Maharaja of Jaipur and we have been keeping them since then,' Ballu Khan told The Indian Express. At Amber Fort, the Vance family also saw folk artists, who performed the Kachhi Ghori, Ghoomar and Kalbelia dances. After this, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari met Vance and family. The Second Family of United States spent one-and-a-half hours at Amber Fort, and visited various parts of the massive complex made of different materials, including sandstone, marble and yellow stone. They visited the Diwan-e-Aam, Ganesh Pol, Sheesh Mahal and Man Singh Mahal in the fort. At 11.30 am, they left the fort and went back to the Rambagh Palace Hotel, where they are staying. The US Vice President is on a four-day visit to India. He reached Delhi on Monday, and after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he visited the Akshardham temple in the national capital. He reached Jaipur at 9.30 pm Monday.
