This year, President’s At Home ‘will sound, taste, feel like South India’

With the decorations drawing inspiration from the South too, an official said: “Starting with the way the guests are welcomed, the At Home will sound, taste and feel like South India.”

“The invitation package has been curated to showcase a selection of unique artisanal handicrafts from the southern region of our country; providing a glimpse of the region’s vibrant traditions with a focus on sustainability, inclusivity and simplicity,” the invite says, adding that it can be “a meaningful keepsake to remind you of your participation in this memorable event”.

The invite adds that the aim is to “spotlight local expertise, through products featuring in the ODOP (One District One Product) and GI (Geographical Indication) schemes” of the government, with sources calling it an attempt to also ensure geographical inclusiveness.

So the guests will be welcomed by a couple each from one of the five southern states – Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala – in the mother tongues of their respective states, and wearing the costumes of the region. There will be a brief performance of dance forms from these states and display of their textiles, with the dishes served to the guests at the high tea showcasing the variety of South India.

The guest list this year will also have actors and artistes from the South.

Sources point out that this coincides with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto being the chief guest at the Republic Day this year, and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on a five-day visit to the country currently. During recent visits, leaders from Southeast Asian countries have raised the cultural similarities between their countries and South India, including in religion, literature, mythology and the arts, officials said.

Apart from this, sources said, the At Home will be more inclusive for the disabled, including people to assist them. The guests will include, besides the dignitaries, women achievers, ‘Drone didis’ – rural women trained to use agricultural drones as part of a government programme – start-up founders and eminent personalities from various professions.

The official quoted above called it a continuation of gestures by Presidents over the years to ensure that different parts of the country find representation at the seat of power. “Right from the first President, Rajendra Prasad, to President Murmu, the Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad has served as an official retreat, mostly in the winter. Being from the East (Murmu is from Odisha), the President wanted this time that the culture of southern states be showcased.”