Guests walking into the Rashtrapati Bhavan for this year’s ‘At Home’ reception on Independence Day will not be carrying just their invitation cards, but also deeply embedded impressions of Bihar and eastern India’s traditional artistry in their hearts.
Marking 79 years of India’s freedom, this year’s invitation has arrived as a beautifully curated box of handcrafted treasures.
A moment of pride in every envelope.
— India Post (@IndiaPostOffice) August 8, 2025
This Independence Day, India Post is honoured to deliver the President’s At Home Reception invitations to citizens across the nation who have achieved extraordinary feats, carrying not just an invite, but a message of recognition, gratitude,… pic.twitter.com/7bivBeJ8EN
The first thing you notice is the golden Sikki grass box — light in the hand and intricately woven. It holds the quiet skill of Bihari women who have worked with this fine grass for generations. Each curve and coil is shaped with care, transforming a humble natural fibre into something beautiful enough to treasure for years.
Inside rests a bamboo photo frame crafted by tribal artisans from Jharkhand. It opens like a small door — a gentle nod to the welcome at the President’s House. Its border is painted in vivid Madhubani motifs from Bihar’s Mithila region, patterns so distinctive they feel instantly familiar. Designed for continued use, the frame ensures that the invitation becomes part of a guest’s home long after the celebrations have ended.
Also in the box is a soft Tussar silk stole, block-printed in the colours of the tricolour and adorned with lotus and fish motifs, each carrying its own symbolism. Neatly tucked alongside are cards introducing other crafts from the region — Tikuli painting from Patna, Paitkar scrolls from Jharkhand, Talapatra Chitra from Odisha, and Pattachitra from Bengal. These short notes offer more than just names; they weave a sense of place and story into the experience, making the act of opening the box feel even richer.
An invitation to the President’s ‘At Home’ is an honour in itself. Around 500 guests, including the Prime Minister, members of the Union Cabinet, diplomats from across the world, senior officials, and eminent personalities, are part of this gathering. This year’s invitation adds another layer to that honour by celebrating the skill of India’s artisans, carrying with it the warmth, artistry, and heritage of Bharat’s eastern heartland. Even in the most formal settings, it serves as a gentle reminder that craft and culture hold a place of pride.
For the artisans whose work fills this year’s invite, it is also a moment of great pride. Their creations have travelled from small village workshops to the country’s most prestigious address, earning appreciation from leaders and dignitaries alike. In many ways, this box is not just a gift to the guests, but a tribute to the makers — recognising that their skills remain a living thread in India’s cultural fabric.
