Dressed
in a half-sleeve white Modi kurta and churidars and a grey shawl thrown
on his left shoulder, Modi walked to the grey granite memorial site,
also known as Ground Zero, and stood solemnly before it with folded
hands.
He then placed, one by one, several yellow roses on the
memorial slabs around the twin memorial pools with names of more than
3,000 victims of the attack, including many Indian-Americans, etched on
it in bronze.
Besides the names of every person who died in the
9/11 terrorist attack, names of the six victims of Feb 26, 1993 World
Trade Centre bombing are also inscribed on it.
After that Modi
visited the 9/11 Museum which includes a memorial exhibition dedicated
to commemorating the unique life of each victim.
Modi's visit to the 9/11 memorial is seen as symbolic of India's resolve to fight terrorism of which it has been a major victim.
The Indian Ambassador to US S. Jaishankar and other officials were with Modi at the 9/11 Memorial.
Occupying
eight of the 16 acres at the World Trade Centre, the Memorial features
two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools, each about an acre in
size, set within the footprints of the original Twin Towers.
More
than 400 trees surround the reflecting pools. Its design conveys a
spirit of hope and renewal, and creates a contemplative space separate
from the usual sights and sounds of a bustling metropolis, according to
the memorial's website.
A small clearing in the grove, known as the Memorial Glade, designates a space for gatherings and special ceremonies.