Washington DC
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a handcrafted sandalwood box with ‘das danam’ to US President Joe Biden during his first state visit to the US on Wednesday (local time).
A master craftsman from Jaipur, Rajasthan has handcrafted the special sandalwood box presented to US President Joe Biden.
The handcrafted delicate silver boxes contain symbolic – ‘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 experience of human life. 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), during Sahasra Poorna Chandrodayam celebrations.
On this occasion, a special gift which symbolises following rituals has been presented as a special gesture by the Prime Minister to President Biden.
The sandalwood sourced from Mysore, Karnataka has intricately carved flora and fauna patterns.
The box contains a silver idol of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu deity who is worshipped first among all gods and is considered the destroyer of obstacles. The idol has been handcrafted by a family of fifth-generation silversmiths from Kolkata.
