PM Modi Presents Traditional Indian Gifts During Five-Nation Tour

PTI, May 21, 2026, New Delhi  : A Muga silk stole for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Madhubani painting with a fish motif for Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, and a Ladakhi pure wool stole for Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson were among the gifts presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recently concluded five-nation tour.

During the visit, Modi also gifted Kesar mangoes and Meghalaya pineapples to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a replica of the ice axe used by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay to Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir, and a Bidri silver work vase to Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, among other items, officials said.

Modi visited 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. Muga silk, known as the “golden silk” of Assam, is celebrated for its natural golden hue and understated elegance.

Officials said Italy’s celebrated tradition of luxury textiles and timeless design finds a natural resonance in the elegance of Assam’s “golden silk”. The Prime Minister of Italy was also gifted a Shirui Lily silk stole, inspired by the misty heights of Shirui Kashong Peak in Manipur.

The stole draws inspiration from the rare Shirui Lily, a delicate bell-shaped flower with pale pinkish-white petals that blooms nowhere else in the world.

For the Tangkhul Naga community of Manipur, the Shirui Lily symbolises purity, identity, and cultural pride. The lily also holds deep cultural resonance in Italy, where it 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 along with CDs of legendary Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Carnatic singer M.S. Subbulakshmi.

The box is a refined example of India’s handcrafted artistry, closely associated with the master craftsmen of Agra.

Created using the intricate art of Pacchikari, or Pietra Dura, this decorative tradition is believed to have originated in Florence, Italy, before flourishing in India under royal patronage, making it a remarkable artistic bridge between the two nations.

Together, the marble inlay box and the timeless musical works celebrate the shared appreciation of India and Italy for art, heritage, and cultural excellence.

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was gifted blue pottery from Jaipur. It is a GI-tagged art form with deep Indian roots, known for its vibrant cobalt blue, white, and yellow designs.

Officials said the pottery stands as a celebrated symbol of Indian craftsmanship, blending traditional artistry with contemporary design. With the Netherlands’ world-famous heritage of producing Delft Blue pottery, these pieces represent a shared commitment to artistic excellence.

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands was gifted Meenakari and Kundan earrings, embodying the finest traditions of Indian jewellery craftsmanship originating from the royal ateliers of Rajasthan.

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten received a Madhubani painting with a fish motif. Madhubani painting is 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 valleys of Sikkim, celebrating the biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayas.

King Harald V of Norway was presented with an intricate silver sailboat model crafted in the ancient Tarakasi silver filigree tradition of Cuttack, Odisha.

Queen Sonja of Norway was gifted a palm leaf Pattachitra, locally known as Tala Pattachitra, one of Odisha’s oldest and most intricate art forms.

Apart from the Ladakhi pure wool stole, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also received 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 Kristrun Frostadottir was gifted a replica of the ice axe used by Tenzing Norgay as a tribute to the legendary tool carried during the first successful 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 and meticulous craftsmanship.

Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was gifted a Kamal Talai Pichwai painting reflecting the devotional artistry of Rajasthan’s Nathdwara tradition.

The UAE President was gifted a Rogan painting featuring the “Tree of Life”. Rogan painting is a rare textile art form from the Kutch region of Gujarat.

He also received Kesar mangoes, a GI-tagged fruit popularly known as Gujarat’s “Queen of Mangoes”, and Meghalaya pineapples, regarded among the finest in the world.

The UAE Crown Prince was gifted a ceremonial dagger adorned with intricate Koftgari work, reflecting India’s martial and artistic heritage, along with Mithila makhana from Bihar.

The UAE Queen Mother received Maheshwari silk fabric from Madhya Pradesh and Chak Hao rice, popularly known as Manipur’s “black rice”.

Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, was gifted several indigenous rice varieties, including red rice from Kerala, Gobindobhog rice from West Bengal, Basmati rice from the Indo-Gangetic plains, Joha rice from Assam, and Kalanamak rice from Uttar Pradesh.

He was also presented with healthy millet bars, highlighting Maharashtra’s agricultural heritage and millet cultivation traditions.