This was how Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was welcomed in Johannesburg, South Africa for the 2025 G20 summit.

This is how Venda people of South Africa greet respectable delegates or elders. The act of a Venda person lying down or adopting a very low posture while greeting elders is a profound sign of respect and humility, not actual sleeping.

This practice is rooted in a traditional belief system that highly values age, respect, and the connection of elders to the ancestor. The posture, often a deep bow, kneeling, or even lying prone, is a deliberate cultural performance meant to preserve traditional values and is a vital part of Venda social etiquette.