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PM Modi gifts Kalamkari Mahabharata painting to French President Macron
The Pochampally silk stole gifted to Brigitte Macron is a handwoven textile from Telangana made using the traditional Ikat resist-dyeing technique.
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IANS - Fri, 19, Jun 2026
- 06:29 EDT
- 21
The handcrafted Kalamkari painting from Andhra Pradesh showcases India’s rich artistic heritage and took nearly six months to complete. / IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a Kalamkari Mahabharata painting to French President Emmanuel Macron and a Pochampally silk stole to French First Lady Brigitte Macron during his visit to France this week as part of a two-nation tour.
The handcrafted Kalamkari painting from Andhra Pradesh showcases India’s rich artistic heritage and took nearly six months to complete. The painting was created using traditional pen-drawing techniques and depicts scenes from the Mahabharata, the ancient Indian epic that explores themes of duty, justice, courage and moral choice.
Central to the artwork is the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, where Lord Krishna guides Arjuna toward responsibility, self-discipline and inner strength. Furthermore, the painting highlights timeless values such as ethical leadership, peace, wisdom and human dignity — principles that remain relevant in today’s world and resonate across cultures.
The Pochampally silk stole gifted to Brigitte Macron is a handwoven textile from Telangana made using the traditional Ikat resist-dyeing technique. Known for its intricate geometric and floral patterns, fine craftsmanship and elegant design, the stole showcases India's rich textile heritage. Its blend of tradition, creativity and high-quality artistry resonates strongly with France’s appreciation for fashion, art and skilled craftsmanship.
PM Modi was on an official visit to France, where he attended the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, held talks with President Macron, and attended the Bharat Innovates Programme and VivaTech 2026 on June 18.
After arriving in Nice on June 13, PM Modi and Macron inaugurated the Bharat Innovates event and also held bilateral talks. Following the talks, PM Modi wrote in a post on X, "Today’s talks with my friend, President Macron, were exceptionally productive. Considering the longstanding friendship between our nations, we have decided to elevate our ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership."
“Our talks covered ways to deepen cooperation in key sectors like defense, technology, space, security, counterterrorism, innovation and more,” he added.
After concluding his engagements in Nice, PM Modi visited Slovakia for a two-day state visit, where he held talks with Slovak counterpart Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini.
On Tuesday, PM Modi traveled to France's Evian to attend the G7 Summit. On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi met several world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
After attending the G7 Summit in Evian, PM Modi traveled to Paris on Wednesday, where he and Macron participated in the VivaTech 2026 program on Thursday. In Paris, PM Modi also met several top CEOs and business leaders, including Alstom CEO Martin Sion, Saint-Gobain CEO Benoit Bazin and Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch. PM Modi also addressed members of the Indian community in France.
Macron on Thursday recorded a special farewell video message in Hindi for the Indian leader as he wrapped up another fruitful trip to France.
"Dear friend Narendra, I am very happy that you are in Nice, Evian or Paris. I am very happy to welcome you here. The friendship between India and France is immortal," Macron said in Hindi.
He then switched to English and reflected on his friendship with PM Modi.
"I hope it was correct, but my dear Narendra, dear Prime Minister, I wanted to thank you so much for your friendship ... France loves you ... I am so happy you are here with so many friends before going back to Delhi. I will come to visit you next February, but you are my true friend ... We love you. Take care," the French president concluded.
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