UP CM Yogi Presents Gulabi Meenakari Ayodhya Temple Replica To PM Modi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. He presented the replica of the grand Shri Ram Temple, made of Gulabi Meenakari, in Delhi. The gift was a cultural statement that highlighted the traditional handicrafts of Kashi and the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative.

The replica is prepared by a Gulabi Meenakari artisan, Kunj Bihari Singh, from PM Modi’s parliamentary constituency, Varanasi.

As per an official statement by the UP government, the artwork, which uses 2 kilograms of silver and gold and is studded with diamonds, was completed in 108 days, during which the Ram Dhun was continuously chanted. The design, featuring Lord Ram, lotus, and bow and arrow motifs, along with diamonds on the four

pinnacles and an internal lighting system, symbolises the importance of the number 108 in Sanatan tradition.

आज नई दिल्ली में आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी से शिष्टाचार भेंट कर उनका मार्गदर्शन प्राप्त किया.

आपका पाथेय ‘नए उत्तर प्रदेश’ की विकास यात्रा को और अधिक गति प्रदान करने हेतु सदैव नवीन ऊर्जा का संचार करता है.

अपना बहुमूल्य समय प्रदान करने हेतु हार्दिक आभार… pic.twitter.com/bQmGojpojB

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 5, 2026

The Gulabi Meenakari’s GI tag officially recognises its unique identity. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath supported Kashi’s artisans by including this craft in the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, providing training, design innovation, and opportunities for government exhibitions and protocol gifting.

Kashi’s Gulabi Meenakari Craft

Dating back to the 16th century, Gulabi Meenakari became a hallmark of Kashi. The colours used in this craft are derived from metal oxides, and the enamelling is done only on pure silver and gold. The process, involving firing at approximately 800 degrees Celsius, is complex and laborious. Artisan families have preserved this tradition for centuries, and it continues to evolve in its modern form today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have leveraged Gulabi Meenakari for cultural diplomacy. During his 2021 visit to the US, Prime Minister Modi gifted a Gulabi Meenakari chess set to then-US Vice President Kamala Harris. Chief Minister Adityanath has also presented Gulabi Meenakari artworks to Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, South superstar Rajinikanth, and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla.