Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased India's rich artistic, textile and intellectual heritage through a range of traditional gifts presented to leaders and dignitaries during his recent visit to France and Slovakia. The gifts, which included a hand-crafted Kalamkari Mahabharata painting, ancient Ayurvedic texts, handwoven textiles and tribal artworks, reflected India's diverse cultural traditions and craftsmanship.
PM Modi returned to New Delhi on Friday after concluding his two-nation visit. The ministry of external affairs said the visit added fresh momentum to the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership and strengthened cooperation across key sectors.
Kalamkari artwork for Macron, Pochampally stole for First Lady
French President Emmanuel Macron received a hand-crafted Kalamkari Mahabharata painting from Andhra Pradesh. The artwork took nearly six months to complete and was created using traditional pen-drawing techniques. It depicts scenes from the Mahabharata and explores themes of duty, justice, courage and moral choice.
Brigitte Macron was gifted a Pochampally Silk Stole from Telangana. The handwoven textile is crafted using the traditional Ikat resist-dyeing technique and is known for its intricate geometric and floral patterns, fine craftsmanship and elegant design.
Traditional Kashmiri and Dokra crafts gifted in Slovakia
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico received a Kashmiri Silk Carpet, one of the Valley's most celebrated hand-knotted crafts. The carpet is made from natural silk and features intricate floral, paisley, vine and medallion motifs inspired by Kashmir's artistic traditions and natural beauty.
President Peter Pellegrini was presented with a Brass Dokra Antelope Set, showcasing the ancient Dokra metal-casting tradition practised by tribal artisans in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Crafted using the lost-wax casting technique, each piece is unique and reflects themes of nature, folklore and rural life.
Pellegrini was also gifted a Himroo Silk Tie and Pocket Square set from Aurangabad. The textile, woven from a silk-cotton blend, is known for its reversible weave, soft texture and intricate floral and paisley motifs. Additionally, he received handcrafted Thewa Motif Cufflinks from Rajasthan's Pratapgarh region. The cufflinks feature finely engraved gold sheets fused onto coloured glass using the rare Thewa jewellery-making technique.
Ancient Ayurvedic texts presented to Slovak Speaker
Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Richard Raši was gifted copies of the Charaka Samhita and Susruta Samhita, two foundational texts of Ayurveda. The Charaka Samhita, attributed to Acharya Charaka, presents a systematic understanding of health, disease, physiology and well-being and remains an important source of medical knowledge. The Susruta Samhita, attributed to the physician Susruta, is regarded as one of the earliest and most significant works on surgery. It documents advanced surgical procedures, instruments, anatomy and medical treatments, including reconstructive techniques such as rhinoplasty.
Raši was also presented with Thekua, a traditional sweet snack from Bihar and Jharkhand made from wheat flour, jaggery or sugar, fennel seeds and ghee. Widely associated with Chhath Puja, the delicacy is known for its long shelf life and cultural significance.
Visit focused on innovation and strategic ties
The gifts formed part of PM Modi's engagements in France and Slovakia, where discussions focused on innovation, technology, economic cooperation and strategic partnerships. PM Modi described the France visit as "extensive" in terms of both engagements and outcomes, covering programmes in Nice, the G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains, VivaTech 2026 in Paris and meetings with business leaders. The Prime Minister said the India-France friendship would become even stronger in the years ahead.
