WASHINGTON, DC: In 2023, foreign leaders gave President Joe Biden and his family gifts worth tens of thousands of dollars, according to the State Department’s annual report released on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India gave the most expensive gift: a $20,000 (approx, ₹17,14,520) diamond to First Lady Jill Biden
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Shining tribute to Jill Biden
Prime Minister Modi gifted First Lady Jill Biden a remarkable 7.5-carat lab-grown green diamond.
#WATCH | Washington, DC: State Dinner underway at the White House. pic.twitter.com/lrdpBZ1so5
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2023
This eco-friendly diamond, crafted using solar and wind power, mirrored the properties of earth-mined diamonds and highlighted India’s commitment to sustainability.
The diamond was placed in a carefully crafted papier-mâché box from Kashmir, adorned with intricate painted designs.
Symbolic gifts for US President Joe Biden
The handcrafted sandalwood box contained Das Danam, a collection of ten symbolic donations rooted in Indian traditions.
This unique gift celebrated the concept of Drishta Sahasrachandro, which honors individuals who have witnessed 1,000 full moons, a milestone equivalent to 80 years and eight months.
The box, made by a master craftsman from Jaipur, Rajasthan, featured intricate patterns of flora and fauna.
It was crafted using sandalwood sourced from Mysore, Karnataka. Inside, the box held a silver idol of Lord Ganesha, a diya (oil lamp), and a copper plate inscribed with a shloka. The ten symbolic donations included:
- Gaudaan (cow donation): Represented by a handcrafted silver coconut from West Bengal.
- Bhudaan (land donation): Symbolized by Mysore sandalwood.
- Tildaan (sesame seed donation): White sesame seeds from Tamil Nadu.
- Hiranyadaan (gold donation): A 24K pure gold coin from Rajasthan.
- Ajyadaan (ghee donation): Ghee sourced from Punjab.
- Dhaanyadaan (food grain donation): Long-grained rice from Uttarakhand.
- Vastradaan (clothes donation): Handwoven tussar silk cloth from Jharkhand.
- Guddaan (jaggery donation): Jaggery from Maharashtra.
- Raupyadaan (silver donation): A pure silver coin crafted in Rajasthan.
- Lavandaan (salt donation): Salt from Gujarat.
These offerings, carefully chosen to honor President Biden, who turned 82 in November 2024, reflect India’s rich cultural heritage.
The gifts exemplified a blend of Indian tradition, artistry, and modern sustainability, reinforcing the cultural ties between India and the United States while presenting the Bidens with meaningful tokens of goodwill.