A Royal Gift: Handcrafted Shivling Showcases Kashi's Rich Craft Heritage

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gifted Prime Minister Narendra Modi a handcrafted Shivling set made from Banaras Metal Repousse Craft during his visit to Varanasi. This artistic creation blends three GI-certified crafts and highlights Kashi's cultural heritage. Modi urged taking Indian crafts global, emphasizing GI's significance.

Devdiscourse News Desk | Varanasi | Updated: 02-08-2025 16:29 IST | Created: 02-08-2025 16:29 IST

A Royal Gift: Handcrafted Shivling Showcases Kashi's Rich Craft Heritage — This image is AI-generated and does not depict any real-life event or location. It is a fictional representation created for illustrative purposes only.

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On Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a handcrafted Shivling set during his visit to Varanasi, created from Banaras Metal Repousse Craft. This notable gift coincided with the auspicious Shravan month.

The unique artifact is a fusion of three Geographical Indication (GI) certified crafts from Kashi, comprising metal repousse, meenakari, and metal casting. The creation, standing 18 inches tall and 15 inches wide, is placed on a meenakari platform and includes a Shivling in an 'argha', a five-hooded snake, and various ritual elements, according to an official release.

The artwork, crafted in a week by local artisans, highlights Kashi's rich cultural legacy. During the presentation, Prime Minister Modi encouraged extending India's indigenous crafts globally and stressed the legal significance of GI. Artisans lauded the move as a significant step in promoting Kashi's traditional art on the world stage.

(With inputs from agencies.)