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As Rashtrapati Bhavan welcomes esteemed guests from across the country on 15 August 2025 to mark our 79th Independence Day, we invite you to experience the cultural and artistic diversity of Bharat.
This time, the invitation for the occasion is inspired by the vibrant living art traditions of four states of the Eastern region of India: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. This invitation has been carefully curated to showcase the unique heritage and creative excellence of these four Eastern states.
Every element reflects the skill and imagination of the artists of the region: a hand crafted box made of woven grass, a reusable bamboo photo frame, exquisite folk paintings, and a specially designed block-printed stole. We hope that it will serve as a beautiful reminder of your participation in this special event.
Woven from the golden-hued sikki grass, this box reflects the delicate artistry of rural craftswomen from Bihar. In this centuries-old craft, natural fibers are skillfully crafted into articles of decorative and practical use.
Crafted by tribal artisans from Jharkhand where bamboo weaving is deeply rooted in tradition - this openable frame takes the symbolic form of a door, representing the welcoming spirit of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The frame is adorned with handpainted Madhubani motifs and houses folk paintings typical of the four Eastern states. Its design allows it to be transformed into a reusable tabletop photo frame - merging tradition with modern utility.
Dating back over 800 years, Tikuli painting is a recently revived folk painting style from Patna, Bihar, known for its bold imagery using a mix of traditional and modern materials. Derived from the decorative bindis worn by women, Tikuli art fuses historic significance with contemporary expression—sustaining livelihoods of artisans across Patna’s neighborhoods.
From the village of Amadubi in Jharkhand, Paitkar paintings are among India's oldest tribal scroll traditions. Using natural pigments from stones, leaves, and bark, these artworks narrate tales of mythology, rituals, and tribal life—serving as visual epics that preserve indigenous identity.
Talapatra Chitra - the palm leaf scrolls of Odisha - are etched with meticulous detail using pin-tip precision. These layered artworks, highlighted with lampblack pigment, depict detailed sequences of stories featuring mythology, nature and daily life. The process of GI tagging for this unique art form is underway.
Practiced by the Patua community of Medinipur in West Bengal, Bengal Pattachitra is a form of scroll painting rooted in folklore and mythology. With its expressive motifs, bold lines, and vibrant colors, this tribal style of art carries the storytelling traditions of rural Bengal into the present.
Originating from the Mithila region of Bihar, Madhubani or Mithila art is known for its bright colours, intricate patterns and deep symbolism. Traditionally painted by women using natural dyes and materials like twigs and matchsticks, this folk art celebrates life, nature, and mythological narratives.
A Tussar silk stole has been specially designed and meticulously block printed by hand, to depict artistic elements common to folk paintings of the region, in a subtle tri-colour theme. Traditional motifs such as 'Matsya', 'Kamal', 'Basant', mirror the rhythms of nature, time and life.
The guests will be welcomed by traditional draping of the stole upon their arrival.
