Ahmedabad: The National Institute of Design (NID) in the city has extended its design services for the ceremonial invitation kit commissioned by Rashtrapati Bhavan for the reception of distinguished guests on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, to be celebrated on 15 August 2025.

According to NID, this year’s invitation kit pays tribute to the artistic and cultural heritage of Eastern India, showcasing traditional crafts from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. “Each element in the kit has been thoughtfully curated to reflect the region’s rich craft traditions and enduring artistic legacy,” the institute said.

The invitation set includes an intricately woven Sikki Grass Box from Bihar (GI-tagged),  handcrafted by rural women artisans using golden-hued grass—a craft form preserved through  generations. Complementing this is a handcrafted Bamboo Photo Frame from Jharkhand,  created by tribal artisans. Designed in the form of a symbolic door, it is adorned with fine  Madhubani art (GI-tagged), known for its vivid colours and intricate patterns.

A hand block-printed Tussar Silk Stole further enriches the collection, featuring regional  motifs such as Matsya, Kamal, and Basant, rendered in a sophisticated tricolour palette.

The kit also features a curated collection of Eastern India’s folk paintings:

• Tikuli Art from Bihar, a bold and revived art form rooted in the cultural milieu of Patna,
• Paitkar Painting from Jharkhand, considered among India’s oldest tribal scroll traditions,
• Talapatra Chitra from Odisha, showcasing meticulously etched narratives on palm leaves, and
• Bengal Pattachitra (GI-tagged), a dynamic storytelling scroll art practiced by the Patua community.

As rightly stated by NID, together these handcrafted elements embody the living heritage, creative expression, and timeless spirit of Bharat.

The entire invitation kit—from design to production—was coordinated at NID Bengaluru under Dean Susanth C S, with active support from NID Ahmedabad. Faculty members, staff, students, and many artisans from various states have contributed to this project.