Overview

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gifted Prime Minister Narendra Modi a Shivling set during his 51st visit to Varanasi.
• The artwork blends Banaras metal repousse, meenakari and metal casting, all protected under India’s Geographical Indication regime.
• Three Kashi artisans—Anil Kasera, Raghunath Kasera and Arun Kumar Verma—crafted the piece over a week with guidance from GI specialists during Shravan month.
• The 18-inch-tall, 15-inch-wide sculpture rests on a meenakari platform and includes ritual elements such as a five-hooded snake, Nandi, trident, kalash of Ganga water, prasad offerings and sandalwood ash.
• Modi used the occasion to champion his “Swadeshi and Local to Global” mantra, emphasizing the legal significance of GI tags and urging measures to promote India’s indigenous crafts worldwide.