President Droupadi Murmu's Republic Day Invitation Box Took Over 300 People To Make

The traditional invitation card sent by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, for the Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception has been replaced by a handcrafted box in recent years, reflecting the country’s

regional handicrafts and rich cultural heritage. Dignitaries from all over the world will receive this intricate box to join Murmu in celebrating the country’s 77th Republic Day on January 26.

Ahead of the occasion, videos of India Post delivering the special box sent by Murmu have caught people’s attention. This handcrafted bamboo box carries signature crafting techniques and artistry from all northeastern or Ashtalakshmi states.

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What’s Inside The Republic Day Invitation Box?
The bamboo-mat box carries elements associated with each of India’s northeastern states. The box contains a wooden slate, on which the invitation text has been written. This text is paired with handcrafted keepsakes linked with the history and culture of Northeast India.

For example, Assam’s Gogona jaw harp and Tripura’s cane jewellery are part of the box. It also features the unique orange wild rhea and stinging nettle fabric associated with Nagaland. Mizoram’s Puan Chei textile and the Longpi Black Pottery of Manipur are also gifted to guests.

Design And Execution
At the behest of President Droupadi Murmu, the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, carried out the design and execution of the invitation box. Professor Andrea Noronha joined hands with Dr C.S. Susanth and Dr Ashok Mondal, and hundreds of regional artisans to create the special invite.

The project reportedly took three and a half months. The first 45 days of work involved collecting resources from the hills of the North East, while the remaining period saw careful assembly at the NID Ahmedabad campus. As many as 200 regional artisans and toolmakers were involved in the project, according to Hindustan Times.

The artisans developed each component of the invitation box from scratch in their villages. Around 100 students and faculty members supported them before bringing everything to the campus.

“The Rashtrapati Bhavan’s brief was the same as last year’s. We had to bring the crafts of the local Indian artisans to the forefront and remind people of India’s heritage through design. The goal was to celebrate the Northeast region’s artistry while showing how these traditions continue to shape national identity,” said Prof. Noronha, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The box can later be displayed as a wall hanging to preserve and showcase Indian craft traditions.