New Delhi

From Assam’s famed Muga silk stole for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Kesar mangoes and Meghalaya pineapples for UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented an array of traditional Indian gifts reflecting the country’s diverse artistic and cultural heritage during his recently concluded five-nation tour.

During the trip covering the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy, Modi gifted handcrafted textiles, paintings, artefacts, agricultural products and cultural memorabilia to world leaders and dignitaries.

Italian Prime Minister Meloni received a Muga silk stole from Assam, celebrated for its natural golden hue and elegance, along with a Shirui Lily silk stole inspired by Manipur’s rare state flower. Italian President Sergio Mattarella was gifted a marble inlay work box featuring CDs of legendary musicians Bhimsen Joshi and M. S. Subbulakshmi.

King Willem-Alexander received Jaipur blue pottery, while Queen Máxima was presented Meenakari and Kundan earrings. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten received a Madhubani painting featuring a fish motif.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was gifted a pressed orchid painting and orchid paperweights from Sikkim, while King Harald V received a silver sailboat crafted in Odisha’s Tarakasi silver filigree tradition. Queen Sonja of Norway was gifted a palm leaf Pattachitra artwork.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received a Ladakhi pure wool stole, Loktak tea from Manipur and a handcrafted Santiniketan messenger bag. Modi also gifted his book, Convenient Action: Continuity for Change, to Swedish Crown Princess Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden.

Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir was gifted a replica of the ice axe used by mountaineer Tenzing Norgay during the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen received a Bidri silver work vase, while Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo was presented a Kamal Talai Pichwai painting from Rajasthan’s Nathdwara tradition.

The UAE president was gifted a Rogan painting featuring the “tree of life” motif, along with Gujarat’s GI-tagged Kesar mangoes and Meghalaya pineapples.

UAE Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a ceremonial dagger featuring Koftgari work and Mithila makhana from Bihar. The UAE Queen Mother was gifted Maheshwari silk fabric and Manipur’s aromatic black rice, Chak Hao.

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Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, received an assortment of Indian rice varieties including red rice from Kerala, Gobindobhog rice from West Bengal, Assam’s Joha rice, Uttar Pradesh’s Kalanamak rice and millet bars from Maharashtra.