Modi’s gifts put Bihar’s makhana, Madhubani art in global spotlight

Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-discussed “Melody” diplomacy with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni may have dominated social media conversations, but his gifting of Mithila Makhana and Madhubani paintings to foreign dignitaries also gave Bihar a distinct cultural presence on the global stage.

CM Samrat Choudhary, BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi and JD(U) national executive president Sanjay Kumar Jha highlighted the significance of the gestures through social media posts on Thursday.PM Modi returned on Thursday after concluding his five-nation visit to the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy. Samrat said the PM’s decision to present Bihar’s renowned Mithila Makhana to the Crown Prince of the UAE was a matter of pride and honour for the state.“The GI-tagged Mithila Makhana has today become a symbol of Bihar’s rich agricultural heritage, the hard work of its farmers, and the global quality of its local produce. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, continuous and effective efforts are underway, including the establishment of the Makhana Board, to secure global recognition for Bihar's traditional products. Today, Bihar’s local heritage is attaining a new stature on the global stage.

This is not only strengthening the state's cultural identity but also providing fresh momentum to its farmers, local enterprises, and the resolve to build a self-reliant Bihar,” Samrat posted on X.BJP state chief and Darbhanga MLA Sanjay Saraogi said Modi presented a fish-motif Madhubani painting to Netherlands Prime Minister Rob Jetten and gifted a dagger featuring Koftgari artwork along with Mithila’s famous makhana to Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.“These gifts represent not merely art and culinary delight, but serve as symbols of Mithila’s rich traditions, the exquisite craftsmanship of Bihar, and the pride of our culture,” Saraogi said.JD(U) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Kumar Jha said the PM Modi’s gesture reflected growing international recognition for Mithila Makhana.“Mithila Makhana, a GI-tagged product, represents the region’s rich agricultural heritage, traditional water-based farming systems and the hard work of thousands of farmers.

Known for its nutrition, it is steadily finding a place on global tables as a premium superfood. Such recognition will further strengthen its international visibility, create new market opportunities and benefit farmers, entrepreneurs and exporters associated with the makhana value chain,” Jha said.He also described the Madhubani painting gifted to the Netherlands PM as a symbol of Bihar’s artistic identity.“The ‘fish motif’ depicted in this painting is not merely a work of art, but a universal message of prosperity, positive energy, fertility, and a balanced coexistence with nature. This beautiful gift further reinforces India’s regional artistic identity on the global stage,” he said.