President’s ‘At Home’ invite highlights NE heritage

This year’s Republic Day At Home invitation from President Droupadi Murmu celebrates the rich cultural and artistic heritage of India’s eight north-eastern states, collectively known as the “Ashtalakshmi”.
According to the official invite, guests attending the reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 26 will be welcomed with a specially designed Eri silk stole, symbolising the textile traditions of the North East. Eri silk—often referred to as “peace silk” or “Ahimsa silk”—is an integral part of the region’s economy and cultural identity.
The stole features representations of the region’s distinctive flora and fauna, including Nagaland’s state animal Mithun and Rhododendron flower; Manipur’s Shirui Lily and Sangai deer; Tripura’s Nagkesar flower and Indian butter catfish; and Mizoram’s Red Vanda Orchid and Himalayan Serow.
The invitation box itself is handcrafted using a woven bamboo mat made on a loom with dyed cotton threads and fine bamboo splits—a traditional weaving technique widely practised in Tripura. The handmade paper tag carrying the invitee’s address is paired with a bamboo ornament from Meghalaya, crafted using specially smoked bamboo that gives it a rich brown hue. Decorative motifs on the cover and box are inspired by the Assamese manuscript painting tradition.
Curated by the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, the invitation seeks to offer guests an immersive experience of the cultural and artistic heritage of Bharat. It showcases traditional crafts from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, developed through close collaboration between artisans and the design team.
Speaking to PTI, Prof Andrea Noronha, who led the project involving over 350 members including artisans, said accessing remote craft clusters in the North East was challenging due to geography. However, she said NID’s long-standing engagement in the region and support from its alumni helped complete the work within a tight timeframe. She described the invitation as a tribute to the ingenuity of the people and their ability to innovate using locally available resources.
The invitation box also includes a wall-hanging scroll made with an octagonal bamboo weave pattern. When unfolded, it reveals a curated display of handcrafted creations from each of the eight states. The structure, along with tricolour threads, evokes the form of the traditional loin loom—a portable weaving tool commonly used by women in the region.
Eight distinct art forms are highlighted, including Assam’s Gogona bamboo jaw harp, an iconic instrument associated with Rongali Bihu celebrations. Other featured crafts include Manipur’s Longpi black pottery, cane and bamboo jewellery from Tripura, Monshugu paper from Arunachal Pradesh, green bamboo weave from Meghalaya, woven nettle fabric and embroidery from Sikkim, orange wild rhea and stinging nettle crafts from Nagaland, and the handwoven puanchei from Mizoram.
Describing the invitation as a confluence of tradition, craftsmanship and natural ecosystems, the card notes that it is designed to adorn walls long after Republic Day celebrations, serving as a lasting depiction of the living heritage of India’s North Eastern region.