President Pratibha Patil walked into a near empty Brazilian Senate for her address, leaving Indian Embassy officials and the hosts red-faced.
A visibly displeased President's office enquired from Indian Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri the reasons for the thin attendance.
Only 15 of the 81-member House turned out on Tuesday to greet 73-year-old Patil, who is on a 13-day tour of Latin American countries, with Brazil being the first stop.
Seated on the front row were Union Minister Vilasrao Muttemwar, Devisingh Shekhawat, President's husband and Puri.
A senior Brazilian government official said it was not unusual for sparse attendance during special sessions since only leaders of political parties are invited. This view was also articulated by Brazilian Ambassador to India Marco Antonio Diniz Brandeo.
The President's office was unwilling to buy such explanations and saw it as an embarrassment for the Head of State, who is on her first visit abroad since assuming office in 2007.
In her address, Patil made a strong pitch for a permanent seat for India in an expanded United Nations Security Council, favouring a closely coordinated approach by the G-4 countries (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan) to get into the top UN body.
Patil again found empty benches when she moved to the Chamber of Deputies (Lower House), where she was introduced to legislators. The President made a brief speech about improvement of Indo-Brazil ties.
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