PM Modi gifts vintage ramen bowl with silver chopsticks, pashmina shawl to Japanese counterpart, wife

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday gifted ramen bowls made of precious stone with silver chopsticks to his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba.

He also presented Ishiba's wife with a pashmina shawl in a papier mache box.

The Vintage Precious Stone Bowls set with Silver Chopsticks is a blend of Indian artistry and Japanese culinary tradition. It features a large brown moonstone bowl with four smaller ones and silver chopsticks and draws inspiration from Japan’s donburi and soba rituals.

The moonstone, sourced from Andhra Pradesh symbolises love, balance, and protection, while the base of the main bowl is Makrana marble inlaid with semi-precious stones in the traditional parchin kari style of Rajasthan.

The Pashmina shawl is made from the fine wool of the Changthangi goat in Ladakh. It is valued worldwide for being light, soft, and warm.

Handwoven by Kashmiri artisans, it carries a centuries-old tradition. The shawl has an ivory base with delicate floral and paisley patterns in rust, pink, and red, showing classic Kashmiri design and craftsmanship.

It comes in a hand-painted papier-mâché box decorated with floral and bird motifs, adding to its beauty and cultural value. Together, the shawl and box represent Kashmir’s artistry, heritage, and timeless elegance.