PM Modi gifts Kalamkari Mahabharata painting to French people.

New Delhi, June 19: 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-country tour.

The Kalamkari painting handmade in Andhra Pradesh showcases the rich artistic heritage of India and took almost six months to complete. The painting was created using traditional pen-and-ink drawing techniques and depicts scenes from the Mahabharata, the ancient Indian epic that explores themes of duty, justice, courage and moral choice.

At the heart of the artwork is the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, where Lord Krishna guides Arjuna towards responsibility, self-discipline and inner strength. Additionally, 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 offered to Brigitte Macron is a hand-woven textile from Telangana made using the traditional Ikat resistance 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.

Prime Minister 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 program and VivaTech 2026 on Thursday.

After arriving in Nice on June 13, Prime Minister Modi and Macron inaugurated the ‘Bharat Innovates’ event and also held bilateral talks. Following the discussions, Prime Minister Modi wrote in an article on X: “Today’s discussions with my friend, President Macron, were exceptionally productive. Given the long-standing friendship between our nations, we have decided to elevate our ties to a special global strategic partnership.

“Our discussions focused on ways to deepen cooperation in key sectors such as defence, technology, space, security, counter-terrorism, innovation and much more,” he added.

After concluding his engagements in Nice, Prime Minister Modi headed to Slovakia for a two-day state visit, during which he held talks with his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi visited Evian, France to attend the G7 summit. On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Modi met several world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

After attending the G7 summit in Evian, PM Modi visited Paris on Wednesday, where he and Macron participated in the VivaTech 2026 program on Thursday. In Paris, PM Modi also met with several high-level CEOs and business leaders, including Martin Sion, CEO of Alstom, Benoit Bazin, CEO of Saint Gobain, and Arthur Mensch, CEO of Mistral AI. Prime Minister Modi also addressed members of the Indian community in France.

Macron recorded a special farewell video message in Hindi for the Indian leader on Thursday as he completed another successful 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 that was correct, but my dear Narendra, dear Prime Minister, I wanted to thank you very much for your friendship… France loves you… I am so happy that you are here with so many friends before returning to Delhi. I will come to visit you next February, but you are my true friend… We love you. Take care of yourself,” the French President concluded.