Varanasi, Aug. 3 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a handcrafted Shivling set that incorporates a blend of three Geographical Indication (GI) certified crafts of Kashi - metal repousse, gulab meenakari, and metal casting - during his visit to Varanasi on Saturday.

The artwork includes a Shivling in an 'argha' (ritual container), a five-hooded snake, Nandi (the bull), 'prasad' offerings, a 'kalash' filled with Ganga water, a trident (trishul), and sandalwood ash (chandan bhasm), said GI expert and Padma Shri awardee Dr Rajni Kant.

The creation stands 18 inches tall and 15 inches wide, placed on a meenakari platform.

The artwork was crafted over a week by three Kashi-based artisans and metal re...