India’s Gifts to G20 Leaders

At the recently held G20 summit, in Bali (Indonesia) Indian Prime Minister gifted heads of states curated craft pieces from Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

USA: Kangra Miniature Paintings (Kangra, Himachal Pradesh): Kangra miniature paintings generally portray ‘Shringar Rasa’ or depiction of love on a natural backdrop.

• The sentiment of love as a metaphor the devotion to the divine remains the inspiration and the central theme of these Pahari paintings.
• The art originated in a small hill state ‘Guler’ in the first half of the 18th century.

Australia: Pithora (Chhota Udaipur, Gujarat): A Phithora is a ritualistic tribal folk art by the Rathwa artisans from Chhota Udaipur in Gujarat.

• These painting are depiction of the cave paintings that tribals used to make reflecting the social, cultural and mythological life and beliefs of those tribals.
• These paintings bear a striking resemblance the Aboriginal dot painting from the indigenous communities of Australia.

Indonesia: Kinnauri Shawl (Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh)

• Kinnauri shawl, as name suggests, are the specialties of the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
• The shawls are made using the extra-weft technique of weaving- with every element of the design woven using the knotting method.
• The designs show influence from Central Asia and Tibet.

Italy: Patan Patola Scarf (Gujarat): The Patan Patola textile is woven by the Salvi family in the Patan area of northern Gujarat.

• The double ikat scarf can be worn on both sides.
• The motifs weaved on Meloni’s scarf were inspired from the Rani Ki Vav, a stepwell in Patan, built in the 11th century AD.