3 weeks ago
Artists from Naxal-Affected Bastar Create I-Day At Home Invitation Kit
For India's Independence Day, the President sends special party invitations to important guests.
This year, the invitations were made completely by hand instead of in a factory.
Almost 50 of the artists come from a part of India called Bastar, which used to be very dangerous because of fighting.
The artists used old crafts that their families have known for a very long time.
The invitations show art from four states: Chhattisgarh, Goa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
They include shiny metal art made from old scrap, tile paintings of coastal wetlands, and tribal paintings made with dots.
Everything is natural and good for the environment, with nothing plastic or machine-made.
When the guests arrive, they will be welcomed with a soft shawl handwoven from silk and cotton.
Making these invitations gives the artists important jobs and shows that their traditional skills are valuable.
The President's invitation is a way of saying the whole country is proud of their work.
Nearly 50 artists from the once Naxal-affected Bastar region of Chhattisgarh are among around 130 artisans who created the handmade Independence Day At Home invitation kit.
The kit was conceptualised by Rashtrapati Bhavan officials and a team from the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The invitation showcases crafts from Chhattisgarh, Goa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, including Dhokra casting, Azulejo tile painting, Warli and Bhil artwork.
The completely handmade and eco-friendly kit features a wrought iron bell and display frame handcrafted by tribal ironsmiths in Bastar using recycled scrap iron.
Guests will be welcomed upon arrival with the traditional draping of a Maheshwari stole handwoven in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, combining four regional weaving traditions.
- Who
- President Droupadi Murmu, who hosts the Independence Day At Home reception; Ashok Mondal, Director of the National Institute of Design (NID); and around 130 artisans, including nearly 50 from Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
- What
- Creation of this year's fully handmade, eco-friendly invitation kit for the Independence Day At Home event, showcasing crafts and cultural heritage from Chhattisgarh, Goa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
- Where
- New Delhi; artisans from Bastar, Chhattisgarh; the Maheshwari stole was handwoven in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh.
- When
- Reported on August 9 ahead of India's Independence Day; the kit was created over more than three months.
- Why
- To showcase India's artistic excellence, sustainable practices, cultural preservation and the empowerment of traditional artisan communities, including from a once Left-Wing Extremism-affected region.
Key facts
- Event
- Independence Day At Home invitation kit
- Host
- President Droupadi Murmu
- Artisans
- Around 130 people, including nearly 50 artists from Bastar, Chhattisgarh
- Conceptualised by
- Rashtrapati Bhavan officials and National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad
- States featured
- Chhattisgarh, Goa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
- Crafts showcased
- Dhokra casting, Pitwa craft, Azulejo tile painting, Warli painting, Bhil artwork
- Design period
- Over more than three months
- Guest welcome
- Traditional draping of a handwoven Maheshwari stole
Quotes
Ashok Mondal
Director of the National Institute of Design (NID)
“The invitation kit was created by around 130 people, including nearly 50 artisans from the once Left‑Wing Extremism‑affected Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, highlighting the transformative impact of inclusive development and livelihood opportunities.”
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