Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a Palm Leaf Pattachitra, a masterpiece of Odisha’s ancient artistry, to Queen Sonja of Norway during his landmark two-day visit to the Nordic nation.
An intricate silver filigree sailboat model from Cuttack was gifted to King Harald V, highlighting Odisha’s Tarakasi craftsmanship and maritime legacy. The gifts, symbolising the deep cultural heritage of India, were exchanged when PM Modi called on King Harald V and Queen Sonja at the Royal Palace in Oslo.
Palm Leaf Pattachitra, locally known as Tala Pattachitra, is one of Odisha’s most ancient and intricate art forms. Unlike cloth-based paintings, this tradition involves engraving detailed illustrations onto carefully treated palm leaves sourced from the Palmyra tree. Renowned for its extraordinary precision, the artwork is often created as foldable panels or strips joined by thread, blending storytelling, calligraphy, and classical iconography into a single artistic form. Its organic texture and fine detailing reflect generations of patient craftsmanship and the enduring creativity of Odisha’s artisan communities.
The silver filigree of Cuttack is a centuries-old craft where beaten silver is drawn into exceptionally fine threads and foils to create delicate, lace-like jewelry and showpieces. It is a GI-tagged product of Odisha.
This visit marked the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Norway in over four decades, since Indira Gandhi’s trip in 1983.