PM Modi Gifts Toda Shawl: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a Toda Embroidered Shawl to the Speaker of Seychelles during his visit to the island nation from June 27-29, 2026.
The Toda Embroidered Shawl is a distinguished textile tradition of the Toda community, an indigenous pastoral people of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu. It is crafted on a white cotton base and adorned with striking red and black geometric embroidery. Each piece is meticulously hand-embroidered, reflecting generations of inherited skill and artistic expression.
The embroidery technique, known as Pukhoor, is unique to the Toda people and is executed entirely by hand. Traditionally worn during ceremonies and important social occasions, the shawl is a symbol of identity, continuity, and the preservation of indigenous knowledge.
The shawl reflects India’s rich cultural diversity and the enduring creativity of its artisan communities—values that resonate with Seychelles’ own commitment to preserving its unique cultural heritage and traditions.
