Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a three-day official visit to Seychelles, presented a set of gifts to the country’s leaders, with each item chosen to reflect India’s art, heritage and long-standing craft traditions.
Seychelles President Patrick Herminie received a handcrafted brass turtle made in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh—often called India’s brass hub. Observers noted the symbolic link to Seychelles, known as the home of the long-living Aldabra giant tortoises.
For the President’s wife, Veronique, the Prime Minister gifted a Maheshwari silk shawl from Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh, woven with a blend of silk and cotton and featuring geometric and floral patterns. She also received a Bidriware box from Bidar, Karnataka, known for its dark oxidised metal base and silver inlay floral work.
Vice President Sebastien Pillay was presented with a Sikkim-made orchid-themed artwork that combines the state’s floral heritage with the national bird, the peacock; the orchid featured is also Seychelles’ national flower. His wife, Lina, received a Kanchipuram silk saree with gold zari work inspired by temple architecture.
Parliament Speaker Azarel Ernesta was gifted a Toda embroidered shawl crafted by the Toda community of the Nilgiris. The handwoven white cotton shawl features dense red and black stitching, highlighting indigenous knowledge and cultural identity.
