Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday, 13 July 2026, publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for presenting traditional Uttarakhand cultural artefacts to the heads of government of New Zealand and Indonesia during diplomatic engagements, calling it a moment of pride for every resident of the hill state.

In a post on X, CM Dhami expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for gifting a traditional Uttarakhandi topi (cap) to New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon and an Aipan-style divine artwork of Lord Shiva to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. He wrote that these gestures had given the rich folk culture, folk art, and Sanatan traditions of Devbhoomi [the Land of Gods] a new identity on the global stage.

Context

Uttarakhand, often referred to as Devbhoomi, is home to two distinct cultural traditions highlighted by the gifts. The Uttarakhandi topi is a regional cap worn during festivals and formal occasions, recognised as a marker of the state's identity. Aipan is a traditional floor and wall art form practised primarily by women in the Kumaon region, using rice paste on red ochre backgrounds to depict deities, geometric patterns, and auspicious motifs.

The choice of an Aipan depiction of Lord Shiva for the Indonesian President carries particular resonance: Indonesia is home to a significant Hindu cultural heritage, especially in Bali, making the gift a culturally layered diplomatic gesture connecting both nations' shared civilisational roots.

Policy Backdrop

India's practice of presenting state-specific handicrafts and art forms during high-level diplomatic meetings has been a deliberate soft-power strategy for over a decade. The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme, launched in 2015, formalised the objective of celebrating India's cultural diversity and strengthening inter-state as well as international cultural bonds.

CM Dhami explicitly invoked the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' [One India, Great India] in his post, framing the diplomatic gifting as an extension of this national initiative onto the world stage. The programme has since been used to project India's regional diversity beyond domestic audiences, complementing bilateral engagement across Asia and Oceania.

Stakeholders and Impact

Uttarakhand's artisan community stands to benefit from the international visibility such diplomatic showcasing generates. When regional crafts appear in high-profile diplomatic settings, it typically spurs interest in cultural tourism and boosts demand for authentic handicrafts, providing a platform for craftspersons who produce Aipan art and traditional headgear.

For the state government, the moment reinforces its ongoing effort to brand Uttarakhand as a cultural and spiritual destination. CM Dhami has consistently highlighted the state's folk traditions in public messaging, and Prime Minister Modi's choice of Uttarakhand-specific gifts provides institutional validation of that narrative at the highest diplomatic level.

What's Next

The episode is likely to prompt the Uttarakhand government to push for greater inclusion of the state's handicrafts in future diplomatic gift protocols, potentially seeking formal coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Culture. Expanded promotion of handicraft clusters under central tourism and culture schemes remains a closely watched area.

As India continues to deepen bilateral ties with countries across Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the strategic use of regionally distinctive cultural artefacts in diplomatic exchanges is expected to grow, offering recurring opportunities to spotlight lesser-known Indian art forms on the world stage.