Gifts For Biden: Silver ‘Delhi to Delaware’ Train Model, Pashmina Shawl

WILMINGTON, DE (ANI) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 22 gifted rare pieces of silver craftwork, and a Pashmina shawl to President Joe Biden, and First lady Jill Biden.

The antique silver hand-engraved train model gift to Biden features a railway carriage with an Indian Railways tag. It also shows the designated route as Delhi to Delaware, Biden’s hometown, where he hosted the Quad Summit.

The vintage model is a rare piece, that has been crafted by artisans from Maharashtra. Entirely made of 92.5 per cent silver, the model is said to showcase the glory of Indian metalworking artistry.

The antique also features an intricate filigree work, that has been done through traditional techniques such as engraving and repoussé.

For Jill Biden, Modi took a Pashmina shawl from Jammu and Kashmir, packed in the traditional handmade ‘papier mâché’ boxes.

The story of Pashmina shawls dates to the Changthangi goat, native to the high altitudes of Ladakh. The goat’s coat, known as ‘Pashm’, is incredibly fine, and is hand-combed by artisans to form Pashmina shawls. Natural dyes derived from plants and minerals are used to add vibrant hues to the fabric.

Pashmina shawls traditionally come packed in papier mâché boxes from Jammu and Kashmir. These boxes are handmade using a mixture of paper pulp, glue, and other natural materials. Each of the papier mâché boxes have a unique design and reflect the rich cultural heritage of Kashmir.