For G20 leaders, a hamper full of India’s rich crafts, organic produce
All these items were packed in a sandook (chest) with brass detailing. Sources said the sandook holds a special place in Indian cultural, besides being an epitome of exquisite workmanship. The chest was handcrafted using sheesham (Indian rosewood), valued for its durability and grain pattern, they said.
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The sandook with brass detailing The world leaders who had assembled in Delhi for the G20 Summit last weekend were offered a peek into India’s traditions and diversity through a multitude of gifts. These included several handcrafted items selected from across the country such as the famous ittar from Kannauj, saffron from Kashmir, Araku coffee from Andhra Pradesh and tea from the Nilgiris.
All these items were packed in a sandook (chest) with brass detailing. Sources said the sandook holds a special place in Indian cultural, besides being an epitome of exquisite workmanship. The chest was handcrafted using sheesham (Indian rosewood), valued for its durability and grain pattern, they said.
The chest contained a pack of saffron from J&K, which is considered the most expensive spice in the world and is valued across civilisations for its culinary and medicinal value. Two varieties of tea were sourced from Darjeeling and Nilgiris; Araku coffee growing on organic plantations in the Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh was also a part of the hamper.
From the Sundarbans — the largest mangrove forest in the world, located in the Bay of Bengal — came the special honey harvested by the traditional honey collectors. Besides being 100 per cent natural, the Sundarban honey is also believed to provide health benefits. The Zighrana Ittar from Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj showcases India’s centuries-old tradition of exquisite perfume crafting.
The Kashmiri Pashmina shawl — sourced from the Changthangi goat (the world’s most unique Cashmere goat) found only at a height of 14,000 feet above sea level — is also a part of the package, as is the Khadi scarf, which was personally presented to each of the the leaders during their visit to the Rajghat. On the symbolism of Khadi, official sources said it is also one of the most important symbols of India’s freedom struggle.
In fact, its name was coined by Mahatma Gandhi himself. From its beginnings on the spinning wheel during India’s Independence movement to today being a marker of high quality and luxury, khadi has been epitomising sustainable fashion for decades, they said.
The Prime Minister had released special coins and stamps to commemorate India’s G20 Presidency during the inauguration of Bharat Mandapam in July. The designs of both the coins and stamps are inspired from India’s G20 logo and the theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. One of the postage stamps, rendered in gold colour, takes inspiration from the lotus, the national flower of India, as represented in India’s G20 Presidency logo.
PM Modi, during his travel to Bali for G20 last year, had presented world leaders with gifts displaying the art and culture of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
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