Republic Day ‘At Home’ to celebrate Ashtalakshmi States at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rashtrapati Bhavan’s ‘At Home’ reception on January 26, marking the 77th Republic Day, will showcase the northeastern region this year.

“The Ashtalakshmi States are a celebration of our cultural diversity and flourishing traditions. The invitation has been conceived as a confluence of elements reflecting the distinctive traditions that shape daily life in each State of India’s northeastern region, the people’s mastery of unique handicraft technique, and the natural ecosystems that sustain their homes. It is a depiction of the living heritage and artistic tradition of India’s northeastern region,” explained a senior official at the President’s House.

The invitation package has been curated by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

The invitation includes handloom weaves, and the decorative motifs on the cover and box draw inspiration from the Assamese manuscript painting style, while the motifs on the fabric panel under the invite represent the flora and fauna of the northeastern region of India.

The wall-hanging scroll invitation has been constructed using an octagonal bamboo weave pattern, with the scroll unfolding to reveal an artistically curated display of handcrafted creations from each State of India’s northeastern region. The structure of the scroll and the tricoloured threads also evoke the shape of the loin loom, a portable weaving tool used particularly by women in the region to create distinctive textiles.