New Delhi: Kashmiri saffron, a hand-inlaid marble chess set from Agra, black tea from Assam, a handcrafted silver horse figurine from Maharashtra were among the gifts presented to Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday as he wrapped up his two-day state visit to India.

The gifts, curated to represent India’s diversity and offering a little slice of the country’s eclectic craftsmanship, geography and culture, were handed over ahead of the banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Putin’s honour.

The Assam Black Tea led the collection. GI-tagged since 2007, the tea represents the land and culture along the Brahmaputra. Show Full Article

Then there was an ornate Murshidabad silver tea set with intricate engravings reflecting Bengal’s storied metalwork tradition

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