Modi Presents Unique Cultural Gifts to Italian PM Meloni

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his five-country tour of the UAE, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway with his return to India on Thursday. The visit featured high-level discussions on strategic and bilateral matters, and memorable exchanges of cultural gifts that underscored India's artistic legacy. During his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, PM Modi gifted a Muga Silk Stole from Assam and a Shirui Lily Silk Stole from Manipur. Muga silk, celebrated as the Golden Silk of the Brahmaputra Valley, stands out for its natural golden colour and remarkable strength. It is woven without chemical dyes and becomes more radiant with age, offering both comfort and longevity. The Shirui Lily Stole is inspired by the rare flower that grows only on the misty slopes of Shirui Kashong mountain in Manipur. For the Tangkhul Naga people, this lily represents sacred identity and cultural pride. The choice of this motif creates a meaningful link with Italy, where the lily has long symbolised purity and artistic sophistication in Renaissance art. PM Modi also presented President Sergio Mattarella with an Agra marble inlay box and music CDs of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and M.S. Subbulakshmi. The pietra dura technique used in the box originated in Florence and later flourished in India, forming an elegant bridge between two great artistic traditions. Such thoughtful exchanges continue to deepen the cultural and diplomatic bonds between India and Italy.