This year’s invitation kit pays tribute to the artistic and cultural heritage of Eastern India, showcasing traditional crafts from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. Each element in the kit has been thoughtfully curated to reflect the region’s rich craft traditions and enduring artistic legacy.
The invitation set includes an intricately woven Sikki Grass Box from Bihar (GI-tagged), handcrafted by rural women artisans using golden-hued grass—a craft form preserved through generations. Complementing this is a handcrafted Bamboo Photo Frame from Jharkhand, created by tribal artisans. Designed in the form of a symbolic door, it is adorned with fine Madhubani art (GI-tagged), known for its vivid colours and intricate patterns.
A hand block-printed Tussar Silk Stole further enriches the collection, featuring regional motifs such as Matsya, Kamal, and Basant, rendered in a sophisticated tricolour palette.
The kit also features a curated collection of Eastern India’s folk paintings:
- Tikuli Art from Bihar, a bold and revived art form rooted in the cultural milieu of Patna,
- Paitkar Painting from Jharkhand, considered among India’s oldest tribal scroll traditions,
- Talapatra Chitra from Odisha, showcasing meticulously etched narratives on palm leaves, and
- Bengal Pattachitra (GI-tagged), a dynamic storytelling scroll art practiced by the Patua community.
Together, these handcrafted elements embody the living heritage, creative expression, and timeless spirit of Bharat.
The coordination of the entire invitation kit preparation from design to production was done from the NID Bengaluru campus under the leadership of Susanth C S, Dean, NID Bengaluru campus with the support of NID Ahmedabad. NID’s faculty members, staff, students, and many artisans from various states have contributed to this project