WASHINGTON: Popular Indian-origin personalities in the U.S. will be the hosts for the grand reception for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Silicon Valley.
Popular Indian-American comedian Rajiv Sathyal, 39, television journalist Raj Mathai, 44, and Bollywood actress Ashwini Bhave, 43, would be masters of ceremonies (MC) to a packed crowd of some 18,500 people at the SAP Center in San Jose, organisers of the event said.
Modi is scheduled to address the crowd on September 27 in San Jose, the hub of the Silicon Valley.
He is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Silicon Valley in more than three decades.
Organisers said more than 45,000 people had registered for the Modi's address - his second in the U.S. in two years, with the last one being in New York's Madison Square last year.
The organisers had resorted to a computerised draw of lots to decide on who all can get to listen the speech in person as the SAP Center can only accommodate a maximum of 18,500 people.
"Sathyal will be MC for the Modi event at SAP Center, along with Bhave, and Mathai," Khanderao Kand, the organiser of the event, told PTI.
A standup comedian originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Sathyal's TV-clean act has made him one of the most versatile comedians. He hosts his own weekly show at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood and has garnered more than four million you tube views.
Popular Bollywood actress Bhave is married to a software engineer and settled in San Francisco.
One of the popular American television journalist, Mathai is the primary news anchor at NBC-owned KNTV in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Responding to questions, Kand said the Indo-American Community of West Coast has raised enough funds for organising the mega event.
"Community groups, corporates, and individuals all have generously contributing to make this a successful reception for the Prime Minister," he said.
He also said that a large television screen would be installed which will live stream the speech of the Prime Minister.
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