New Delhi/Ahmedabad, January 16, 2026: The National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad has designed the ceremonial ‘At Home’ invitation kit for distinguished guests attending the Republic Day reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 26, 2026, marking India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations.

Commissioned by Rashtrapati Bhavan, the invitation kit showcases the traditional crafts and material culture of India’s eight North-Eastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura—collectively known as the Ashta Lakshmi states. The design project was conceived as a collaborative effort between NID and artisan communities across the region, highlighting their craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and sustainable practices.

According to NID officials, the project began in late September 2025, when an NID team travelled extensively across the North-East to engage with artisans, craft clusters, and alumni of the institute. Over a three-month period, more than 350 artisans worked alongside NID faculty members, students, technical staff, and designers under the leadership of NID Ahmedabad Director Dr. Ashok Mondal, with Professors Andrea Noronha and Dr. C.S. Susanth heading the core design team. The work involved close coordination between NID’s Ahmedabad and Bengaluru campuses, with artisans crafting elements directly from their villages.

Each component of the invitation kit reflects the distinctive traditions, natural resources, and artistic sensibilities of the region. The outer invitation box is made from woven bamboo mat, a technique commonly used in Tripura, with dyed cotton threads forming the warp and fine bamboo splits forming the weft. A handmade paper tag bearing the guest’s address is accompanied by a smoked bamboo ornament from Meghalaya, giving it a deep brown finish. The decorative motifs on the cover draw inspiration from traditional Assamese manuscript paintings, while the fabric panel beneath the invite depicts flora and fauna native to the North-East.

A central feature of the kit is a wall-hanging scroll made from an octagonal bamboo weave, unfolding to reveal handcrafted representations from each North-Eastern state. Its structure and tri-colour threads are designed to resemble a traditional loin loom, a portable weaving tool predominantly used by women in the region.

Among the featured craft elements is a piece of woven nettle fabric from Sikkim, inspired by Lepcha ‘thara’ weaving, traditionally made from stinging nettle fibres and associated with Mount Kangchendzonga. A green bamboo coaster from Meghalaya mirrors the design of the traditional rain shield known as ‘knup’, woven with two layers of bamboo and palm leaves for durability and water resistance.

The scroll also includes a miniature bamboo jaw harp, or Gogona, from Assam, an instrument integral to Rongali Bihu celebrations, along with intricate cane and bamboo jewellery from Tripura crafted using simple tools and natural adhesives. A rare textile from Nagaland, made from wild orange rhea and Himalayan stinging nettle fibres, represents the cultural revival of the Khiamniungan Naga tribe.

Additionally, the kit features a handwoven Puan Chei from Mizoram, known for its elaborate geometric patterns worn during festivals and weddings, and a sample of Longpi black pottery from Manipur, shaped from serpentine rock and clay and polished with leaves to create a natural glaze, depicting the state flower, Shirui Lily.

NID officials stated that the invitation serves not just as a formal card but as a tactile tribute to the artistic heritage of the North-East, acknowledging the seasonal nature of materials, decentralized production processes, and the deep connection between craft, environment, and community.