Lab-grown green diamond: All you need to know about this special gift that PM Modi gave to US First Lady Jill Biden
2 min read 22 Jun 2023, 10:11 AM ISTPM Modi gifted a handcrafted sandalwood box with 'das danam' to US President Joe Biden. He also gifted a lab-grown 7.5-carat green diamond to US First Lady Jill Biden, along with a papier mache box called 'kar-e-kalamdani'.
PremiumPrime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a special present to Us President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden on Thursday. PM Narendra Modi presented a handcrafted sandalwood box with 'das danam' to US President and a lab-grown 7.5-carat green diamond to Jill Biden.
All you need to know about lab-grown green diamonds:
The 7.5-carat green diamond reflects earth-mined diamonds' chemical and optical properties. It is an eco-friendly diamond as the making of it involved diversified resources like Solar and wind power. Along with the diamond, Prime Minister Modi gifted a 'papier mache' box to Jill Biden in which the diamond would be placed. The box is known as 'kar-e-kalamdani', Kashmir's exquisite Papier mache that involves sakthsazior meticulous preparation of paper pulp and naqqashi.
Gifts for US President Joe Biden
PM Modi gifted a handcrafted sandalwood box with 'das danam' to US President Joe Biden.
'Das Danam' or the ten donations which denote the donations made on the occasion when a person becomes 'Drishta Sahasrachandro' or the one who has seen one thousand full moons when he completes the age of eighty years and eight months.
At this stage of life, the individual (who has seen one thousand full moons) is honoured and celebrated for the sheer experience of human life. During Sahasra Poorna Chandrodayam celebrations, there is a custom of 'Das Danam' or donations of ten different kinds, which include - Gaudaan (cow), Bhudaan (land), Tildaan (sesame seeds), Hiranyadaan (gold), Ajyadaan (ghee or clarified butter), Dhaanyadaan (food grains), Vastradaan (clothes), Guddaan (jaggery), Raupyadaan (silver) and Lavandaan (salt).
The handcrafted delicate silver boxes gifted by PM Modi to US President Joe Biden, who turns 81 this November, contain ten donations, which denote the donations made on the occasion.
The box includes a delicately handcrafted silver coconut by the skilled artisans of West Bengal is offered in place of a Cow for Gaudaan (donation of cow). A fragrant piece of sandalwood sourced from Mysore, Karnataka is offered in place of land for Bhudaan (donation of land).
The box also includes Til or white sesame seeds sourced from Tamil Nadu is offered for Tildaan (donation of sesame seeds). Handcrafted in Rajasthan, this 24K pure and hallmarked gold coin is offered as Hiranyadaan (donation of gold).
The box also contains ghee or clarified butter sourced from Punjab is offered for Ajyadaan (donation of clarified butter). A handwoven textured tussar silk cloth sourced from Jharkhand is offered for Vastradaan (donation of cloth). Long-grained rice sourced from Uttarakhand is offered for Dhaanyadaan (donation of food grains).
Jaggery sourced from Maharashtra is offered for Guddaan (donation of jaggery). The 99.5% pure and hallmarked silver coin has been aesthetically crafted by Rajasthan artisans and is offered as Raupyadaan (donation of silver). Lavan or salt from Gujarat is offered for Lavandaan (donation of salt).
The sandalwood used in the making of the box is sourced from Mysore, Karnataka. The box is carved with flora and fauna patterns. The box contains a silver idol of Lord Ganesha, handcrafted by a family of fifth-generation silversmiths from Kolkata. Besides, it contains an oil lamp, a copper plate also called tamper-Patra that has been sourced from Uttar Pradesh and a shloka has been inscribed on it.
PM Modi gifted a copy of the first edition print of this book, 'The Ten Principal Upanishads' published by M/s Faber and Faber Ltd of London