PM Modi Gifts Bihar’s Traditional Sweet Thekua To Slovakia Speaker, Showcasing India’s Culinary Heritage

Cloud TV Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again used cultural diplomacy to showcase India’s rich heritage on the global stage. During his recent visit to France and Slovakia, Modi presented Thekua, a traditional sweet snack from Bihar and Jharkhand, to Richard Raši, Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia. The gesture has drawn attention to one of eastern India’s most beloved traditional foods.

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Thekua is a deep-fried sweet delicacy prepared using wheat flour, jaggery or sugar, ghee, and fennel seeds. Often described as a “desi cookie,” it is known for its crisp exterior and rich flavour. The snack can be stored for several weeks, making it a popular homemade treat across Bihar and Jharkhand.

The sweet holds special cultural and religious significance because it is traditionally offered as prasad during Chhath Puja, one of the most important festivals in Bihar. The festival is dedicated to the Sun God and is celebrated with great devotion across Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of eastern India. For many people, Thekua is more than a sweet—it is a symbol of faith, tradition, and regional identity.

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Modi’s decision to gift Thekua aligns with his broader effort to promote India’s regional products and cultural heritage internationally. Over the years, he has presented global leaders with a variety of Indian gifts, including Kesar mangoes, Loktak tea, GI-tagged rice varieties, Kalamkari artwork, and traditional handicrafts. Thekua now joins that growing list of cultural ambassadors from India.

The gift was presented during Modi’s landmark visit to Slovakia, the first by an Indian Prime Minister since the country’s independence in 1993. The visit focused on strengthening bilateral relations in areas such as trade, technology, innovation, energy, and cultural cooperation.

Political leaders and cultural enthusiasts in Bihar welcomed the gesture, describing it as a proud moment for the state. Many believe that presenting Thekua to a foreign dignitary helps bring global recognition to Bihar’s culinary traditions and highlights the diversity of India’s cultural landscape.