130 artisans create President’s ‘At Home’ reception invitation kit:Independence Day dinner invite features folk art from 4 states

This year, the invitation kit for the Independence Day ‘At Home’ reception has been made by a team of 130 artisans. It took around three months to complete. The special feature of the kit is that it highlights the rich art, traditions and cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh, Goa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. President Droupadi Murmu will host the event at Rashtrapati Bhavan from 6 pm on August 15. 50 artists from Bastar among those who made the kit Officials from Rashtrapati Bhavan and a team from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, worked together to design the kit. NID Director Ashok Mandal said around 130 people were involved in making the kit, including nearly 50 artisans from Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, which was once affected by left-wing extremism. Mandal said the artisans worked with NID teachers, designers and students for more than three months to create the kit. Glimpse of art from 4 states The invitation kit features examples of traditional practices and conservation efforts from Chhattisgarh, Goa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The invitation card also showcases the colourful folk art traditions of these four states. Chhattisgarh’s art features Dhokra casting, one of India’s oldest metal-casting traditions. The artwork represents the community’s tradition of protecting sacred groves. The kit also features Chhattisgarh’s Pitwa iron craft, which has been used to make display frames and bells. Mandal said this eco-friendly art reflects the daily life and culture of local tribal communities. It turns old scrap iron into simple but attractive sculptures and useful everyday items. Each piece is made by hand using iron rods or sheets, without casting. The iron bell attached to the address slip has also been handcrafted from scrap iron by skilled tribal blacksmiths from Bastar. Goa’s Khazan, Maharashtra’s river showcased The Azulejo tile painting created for the invitation depicts Goa’s Khazan land. It is a coastal wetland reclaimed from mangrove forests and marshy areas and managed by local communities. The land supports paddy cultivation, fishing and salt production. The Khazan ecosystem also acts as a nature-based coastal protection system. The Warli painting included in the kit shows the rejuvenation of the Kham River in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. The panel explains how waste management, water purification, planting native species and improving shared public spaces gradually helped turn the river area into a stronger ecosystem. Madhya Pradesh’s seed-saving tradition The Bhil painting created for the invitation highlights the traditional practice of seed saving by communities in Madhya Pradesh. Through this practice, local varieties of grains, pulses and vegetables that are suited to the region’s climate and food systems are preserved. Bhil painting is a colourful tribal art form from Madhya Pradesh. It uses detailed patterns made with dots to depict nature, mythological figures and everyday life. These paintings are traditionally made using neem twigs. Guests will be welcomed with Maheshwari stoles The NID director said guests will be presented with specially designed Maheshwari stoles when they arrive at the welcome area. The stole brings together the textile traditions of Chhattisgarh, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra through their distinctive regional designs. It has been hand-woven in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, using the traditional double-weaving technique with silk and cotton threads, which is a key feature of the Maheshwari tradition. Four different regional weaving styles have been brought together in a single fabric. Its design includes the border strip of Maharashtra’s Karvat Kathi saree, the Rudraksh strip of Goa’s Kunbi saree, the Kangra design of Maheshwari weaving and the Chinta Chowk design from Chhattisgarh’s Panika tradition.