President’s Republic Day ‘At Home’ invite celebrates Northeast’s living traditions

The invitation to the President’s Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception this year goes beyond a formal card, offering a vivid showcase of India’s rich Northeastern cultural traditions.

Moving away from conventional paper invitations, the invite has been crafted as a cultural artifact, reflecting the living heritage of the Northeast. The concept and design were developed by the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, and executed by more than 200 artisans from across the region.

Each element of the invitation draws from traditional crafts, including bamboo weaving from Tripura, Eri silk from Assam, Longpi black pottery from Manipur, Puanchei textiles from Mizoram, and rare nettle fibre from Nagaland. Adding a unique sensory dimension, the invite also incorporates Assam’s traditional Gogona, a handmade bamboo musical instrument.

The invitations are being personally delivered by India Post Dak Sevaks.