For esteemed guests who will be attending the "At Home" reception of President Droupadi Murmu on Republic Day 2026, the experience begins long before they arrive at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
In years gone by, guests received a plain white invitation card. However, this has now been replaced by an intricately-designed handmade invitation box showcasing the various craft traditions from different regions throughout India. Videos showing delivery of these unique boxes by India Post have gone wildly popular with many wondering "how did all the traditional handicraft styles of the eight Northeastern states fit into one bamboo box?"
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The elements of the card
The invitation is contained in a unique box made of a bamboo mat woven with dyed cotton threads and bamboo splits, a process commonly used in Tripura.
The outer packaging features a handmade paper tag with the invitee's address and a piece of bamboo art made from a split piece of bamboo that has been smoked, giving it a rich brown colour.
The design of both the box and cover is inspired by the manuscript painting style of Assam, the fabric panel located below the invitation showcases the plants and animals indigenous to Northeast India.
Contents of the invitation card
"This invitation has been conceived as a confluence of elements reflecting the distinctive traditions that shape daily life in each state of India's Northeastern region, the people's mastery of unique handicraft techniques, and the natural ecosystems that sustain their homes," reads the card.
"It is designed to adorn your walls long after your participation in the celebrations of Republic Day 2026, as a beautiful depiction of the living heritage and artistic traditions of the country's northeastern region," it adds.
"We invite you to experience the cultural and artistic heritage of Bharat," reads the invitation card curated by the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad.
Professors Andrea Noronha, CS Susanth, and Ashok Mondal worked with hundreds of local artisans to breathe life into the project.
"On the occasion of this At Home reception, we showcase our northeastern region," it reads while adding that "the Ashtalakshmi states are a celebration of our cultural diversity and flourishing traditions".
Time taken to bring invitation card to life
The duration of the project was approximately three-and-a-half months divided into two 45-day components: 45 days spent sourcing materials (wooden parts) from the hilly regions of the north-eastern states of India; and 45 days of detailed manufacturing on-site at NID Ahmedabad.
The first phase involved a large group of more than 200 members consisting of artisans, tool makers and carpenters from rural areas, who produced pieces by hand in their respective villages. Once all pieces were finished, over 100 students and faculty members worked together to assemble everything on-campus.
