From Muga Silk Stole for Meloni to Ice Axe Replica for Iceland PM: PM Modi’s Unique Gifts During 5-Nation Tour

BuzzBytes News Desk
New Delhi, : A Muga silk stole for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Madhubani painting with fish motif for Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, and a Ladakhi pure wool stole for Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson were among the distinctive gifts presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his just-concluded five-nation tour to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
The Muga silk stole gifted to Meloni is a rare and prestigious textile from the Brahmaputra Valley, known as the “golden silk” of Assam, celebrated for its natural golden hue and understated elegance. Italy’s celebrated tradition of luxury textiles and timeless design finds a natural resonance in the elegance of Assam’s “golden silk,” officials said. The Italian Prime Minister was also gifted a Shirui Lily silk stole, inspired by the rare Shirui Lily that blooms only on the misty heights of Shirui Kashong peak in Manipur. For the Tangkhul Naga community, the Shirui Lily symbolises purity, identity and cultural pride, while in Italy, the lily has long symbolised purity, grace and artistic refinement, frequently appearing in Renaissance art.
President of Italy Sergio Mattarella was gifted a marble inlay work box with CDs of legendary Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Carnatic singer M S Subbulakshmi. The box is a refined example of Pacchikari or Pietra Dura, a decorative tradition believed to have originated in Florence, Italy, before flourishing in India under royal patronage, making it a remarkable artistic bridge between the two nations.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was gifted blue pottery from Jaipur, a GI-tagged art form iconic for its vibrant cobalt blue, white, and yellow designs. With the Netherlands’ world-famous heritage of Delft Blue pottery, these pieces are an ode to a shared commitment to artistic excellence. Queen Máxima was gifted Meenakari and Kundan earrings embodying the finest traditions of Indian jewellery craftsmanship from the royal ateliers of Rajasthan. Prime Minister Rob Jetten received a Madhubani painting with a fish motif, a GI-tagged folk art tradition from the Mithila region known for its intricate geometric patterns and vibrant colours.
Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre was gifted a pressed orchid painting and orchid paperweights composed of real pressed orchids and ferns from the mist-covered valleys of Sikkim, celebrating the extraordinary biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayas. King Harald V received an intricate silver sailboat model, a masterpiece of Tarakasi (silver filigree) from Cuttack, Odisha, while Queen Sonja was gifted a palm leaf Pattachitra (Tala Pattachitra), one of Odisha’s most ancient and intricate art forms.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received a Ladakhi pure wool stole, along with Loktak tea — an artisanal, small-batch tea from the hills surrounding the largest freshwater lake in the northeast — and a handcrafted Santiniketan messenger bag.
Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir was gifted a replica of the ice axe used by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, carried by the legendary guide on the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen received a Bidri silver work vase reflecting the refined artistry of the Deccan, celebrated for its intricate silver inlay. Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was given a Kamal Talai Pichwai painting from the Nathdwara tradition of Rajasthan.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was gifted a Rogan painting with the tree of life from Kutch, Gujarat, along with Kesar mangoes (GI-tagged “Queen of Mangoes” from Gujarat) and Meghalaya pineapples. The UAE Crown Prince received a ceremonial dagger with Koftgari work and Mithila makhana from Bihar. The UAE Queen Mother was gifted Maheshwari silk fabric from Madhya Pradesh and Chak Hao rice (Manipur’s “black rice”). Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO, was gifted five premium rice varieties — red rice from Kerala, Gobindobhog from West Bengal, Basmati, Joha from Assam, and Kalanamak “Buddha Rice” from Uttar Pradesh — along with healthy millet bars from Maharashtra. (Agencies)