"Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday with a visit to Sabarmati Ashram, the former residence of Mahatma Gandhi, followed by a tour of the International Kite Festival along the Sabarmati Riverfront. Footage shows Modi and Merz paying homage at the memorial before heading to the riverfront, where they were greeted by large crowds and took part in the festivities by flying kites. The two leaders are later expected to hold bilateral talks in Gandhinagar, focusing on economic and security cooperation, among other issues, according to local media. The talks are scheduled to take place at Mahatma Mandir. Merz is due to travel to Bengaluru following his visit to Ahmedabad and is expected to conclude his trip on Tuesday. The German chancellor began a two-day visit to India on Monday, his first trip to Asia since taking office in May. The visit also marks 25 years of the India–Germany Strategic Partnership, which was commemorated in May 2025."