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Independence Day 2025 Gets an Artistic Touch with NID’s Eastern India-Themed Invitation Kit

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Heritage in a Box: NID Ahmedabad Crafts Presidential Invite Showcasing Eastern India’s Traditions

From Sikki Grass to Pattachitra: NID Ahmedabad Weaves Eastern India’s Art into I-Day Invite

 

 

The National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, has brought its creative prowess to the fore for the Rashtrapati Bhavan, designing the formal invitation kit for India’s 79th Independence Day celebrations on August 15, 2025. This year’s design is a tribute to the cultural and artistic wealth of eastern India, highlighting the traditional crafts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal.

Addressing the media at a press conference held at NID Ahmedabad on Tuesday, Dr. Ashok Mondal, Director of NID Ahmedabad, detailed the creative journey behind the project and the vision of bringing Eastern India’s heritage into the national spotlight. “This project reflects not only the craftsmanship of our artisans but also NID’s commitment to preserving and showcasing India’s cultural diversity on prestigious platforms,” Dr. Mondal said.

The ensemble includes a finely woven Sikki grass box from Bihar, handcrafted by rural women artisans using golden-hued grass; a bamboo photo frame from Jharkhand designed as a symbolic gateway with vibrant Madhubani art; a hand block-printed tussar silk stole with fish, lotus, and spring motifs in a tricolour palette; and a curated selection of folk paintings including Bihar’s bold Tikuli art, Jharkhand’s ancient Patkar scrolls, Odisha’s intricately engraved Tala Pattachitra, and West Bengal’s dynamic Bengal Pattachitra storytelling scrolls.

Collaboration Across Campuses

Dr. Mondal shared that the project was a collaborative effort between NID’s Bengaluru and Ahmedabad campuses, bringing together faculty, students, and master artisans from the participating states. Dr. C S Susanth, Dean of NID Bengaluru – who oversaw the project’s coordination, emphasised the importance of such collaborations in preserving India’s cultural identity. “This invitation kit is more than a ceremonial gesture — it is a living archive of India’s artisanal mastery. Each piece carries the soul of its place of origin while speaking the language of contemporary design,” he said.

Design Faculty’s Expertise

The textiles were conceptualised under the guidance of Sakhtivel and Aarti Srivastava, both faculty members in Textile Design. Speaking about the tussar silk stole, Sakhtivel noted, “We wanted the motifs to be instantly recognisable yet refined enough to carry the gravitas of a national event. The fish and lotus, for example, are deeply symbolic in the region’s folklore.”

Aarti Srivastava added, “Our approach balanced traditional block printing with modern colour sensibilities. The tricolour palette not only reflects national pride but also ties together the diversity of Eastern India’s crafts.”

Furniture and Interior Design faculty member Andrea Norhana lent her expertise in developing the bamboo Madhubani frame. “We envisioned it as a ‘gateway of stories’ — a frame that is not just decorative but narrates the journey of the art form and the hands that made it,” she explained.

A Legacy of Design Leadership

Established in 1961 under the vision of Charles and Ray Eames, NID has been at the forefront of integrating modern design thinking with India’s artisanal traditions. Recognised as an “Institution of National Importance” in 2014, it continues to bridge heritage crafts with contemporary markets, shaping India’s creative economy.

By embedding Eastern India’s heritage into the Independence Day invitation, NID — under the leadership of Dr. Ashok Mondal — not only honours the artisans but also reaffirms its role as a custodian of India’s diverse cultural legacy.

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