After two “productive days” at the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his visit to Bali and departed for India on Wednesday. During his visit, Modi met with various world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Before setting out, Modi presented world leaders with artworks and traditional items representing the rich heritage of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. This is what the Prime Minister gave to world leaders.
USA – Kangra Miniature | Modi presented a miniature of Kangra to US President Joe Biden. Kangra miniatures usually depict “Shringar Rasa” or love against a natural background. The emotion of love as a metaphor for divine devotion remains the inspiration and central theme of these Pahari paintings. The art originated in the highlands of Ghula in the first half of the 18th century when families of Kashmiri artists trained in the Mughal style of painting sought refuge in the court of Raja Duleep Singh in Ghul. The style reached its peak during the reign of Maharaja Samsar Chand Katocha (r. 1776-1824), the great patron of Kangra art. These exquisite paintings are now created using natural colors by master painters from Himachal Pradesh. (Photo: PIB India)
United Kingdom – Mata Ni Pachedi (Ahemdabad) | Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, was awarded the “Mata Ni Pachedi”. Mata Ni Pachedi is a handmade fabric from Gujarat, intended for offering in temple sanctuaries dedicated to the Mother Goddess. The name comes from the Gujarati words “Mata” meaning “mother goddess”, “Ni” meaning “from” and “Pachedi” meaning “background”. The Goddess is the central figure of the design, surrounded by other elements of her story. Mata Ni Pachedi is created by the Vagris nomadic community to pay homage to the various incarnations of Mata, the divine single form of the Goddess from which others emanate, and to display narrative images of Mata, Devi or Shakti epics. (Photo: PIB India)
Australia – Pythora (Chhota Udaipur) | Australian leader Anthony Albanese purchased Fitora, a ritual tribal folk art of Ratwa artisans in Chhota Udaipur, Gujarat. It is a living testimony to the changing spirit and the embodiment of the very rich folk and tribal art culture of Gujarat. These paintings depict rock paintings that the tribes used to reflect the social, cultural and mythological life and beliefs of these tribes. It embraces nature’s bounty in every aspect of human civilization and is full of the childlike joy of discovery. Pitor as a fresco is of particular importance in the history of cultural anthropology. It brings a sense of seething energy that goes back to the earliest manifestations of creativity in humans. The paintings bear a striking resemblance to the pointillism of the Australian Aboriginal communities. (Photo: PIB India)
Italy – Patan Patola Dupatta (Scarf) (Patan) | Georgia Meloni from Italy received the Patan Patola dupatta. (Double Ikat) Patan Patola fabrics, woven by the Salvi family in the Patan district of northern Gujarat, are so skillfully crafted that they turn into a celebration of color, with an indistinguishable front and back. Patole is a term derived from the Sanskrit word “pattu” meaning silk cloth dating back to ancient times. The intricate pattern on this dainty Dupatta (scarf) is inspired by Rani Ki Vav, a stepwell in Patan built in the 11th century AD, an architectural marvel known for its precision, detail and beautiful sculpture. panels. The Patan Patola Dupatta is presented in the Sadeli box, which is an ornament in itself. Sadeli is a highly skilled woodworker hailing from the Surat region of Gujarat. It involves accurately carving geometric patterns into wood products to create aesthetically pleasing designs. (Photo: PIB India)
France, Germany, Singapore – Onyx bowl (Kutch) | Modi’s gift to the leaders of France, Germany and Singapore is the “Onyx Bowl”. Gujarat is renowned for its agate craftsmanship. A semi-precious stone formed from chalcedony silica is found in underground mines in the Rajpipla and Ratanpur riverbeds and is extracted from it to make various jewelry. Its flexibility has allowed traditional and skilled artisans to transform the stone into a range of products, making it very popular. This precious traditional craft has been passed down from generation to generation since the Indus Valley Civilization and is currently practiced by the artisans of Khambat. Agate is used in a variety of contemporary designs as home decorations and fashion jewelry. Agate has been used for centuries for its healing properties. (Photo: PIB India)
Indonesia – Silver Bowl (Surat) & Kinnauri Shawl (Kinnaur) | Indonesia – Silver Bowl (Surat) & Kinnauri Shawl (Kinnaur) | Indonesia – Silver Bowl (Surat) and Shawl Kinnauri (Kinnaur) |印度尼西亚- 银碗(Surat) & Kinnauri 披肩(Kinnaur) |印度尼西亚- 银碗(Surat) & Kinnauri 披肩(Kinnaur) | Indonesia – Silver Bowl (Surat) and Shawl Kinnauri (Kinnaur) | The Indonesian leader received a silver bowl and a kinnauri handkerchief. Unique and exquisite sterling silver bowl. It is a centuries old craft, perfected by traditional and highly skilled metal craftsmen in the Surat region of Gujarat. This process is extremely delicate, using precise, patient and skilled handwork, and reflects the ingenuity and creativity of the artisans. Making even the simplest silverware is a complex process that can involve four or five people. This fantastic combination of art and utility adds charm and elegance to a modern and traditional ensemble. (Photo: PIB India)
Shal Kinnauri (Kinnaur) | Kinnauri Shawl, as the name suggests, is a specialty of the Kinnaur region of Himachal Pradesh. Based on the ancient traditions of woolen and textile production of the region. The design shows the influence of Central Asia and Tibet. The shawl is made using the technique of additional weaving – each element of the pattern is woven using the knot method, and the weft threads are inserted by hand to fix the pattern, creating a lifting effect in the resulting pattern. (Photo: PIB India)
Spain – Kanal Brass Set (Mandi & Kullu) | Spain – Kanal Brass Set (Mandi & Kullu) | Spain – Brass set (Mandi and Kullu) |西班牙- Kanal 黄铜组(Mandi & Kullu) |西班牙- Kanal 黄铜组(Mandi & Kullu) | Spain – Kanal Brass Group (Mandi and Kullu) | Modi presented the Spanish leader with a set of copper pipes for canals connected to the Mandi and Kulu districts of Himachal Pradesh. The channel is a large, straight copper trumpet over a meter long, played in parts of the Himalayan region of India. It has a prominent bell, similar to a Datura flower. It is used on ceremonial occasions such as processions of village gods. It is also used to greet the leaders of Himachal Pradesh. It is a reed instrument with a wider base, a saucer with a diameter of 44 cm, and the rest is a brass conical hollow tube. Channel brass tubes have two or three round protrusions. The blown end has a cup-shaped mouthpiece. The end of the mouth is like a dhatura flower. Instruments around 138-140 in length are played on special occasions and are rarely used by the general public. These traditional instruments are now increasingly used as decorative items and are made by skilled metal craftsmen in the Mandi and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh. (Photo: PIB India)