Republic Day 2025: President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday hosted a special ‘At Home’ reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, celebrating South India’s vibrant culture through displays of the region’s cuisine, textiles, and art.
The five southern states—Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala—played a prominent role in the event, as they were part of the welcome program, cultural performances, the guest list, and the cuisine featured at the celebration
The Republic Day event also featured ‘Drone Didis’ as special invitees—women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) who use drones to provide agricultural services to farmers, highlighting their unique contributions to technology and farming.
The special invitees also included women achievers from diverse fields, agriculturists engaged in natural farming and specially-abled achievers.
The guests were greeted by a couple from each of the five southern states—Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala—dressed in traditional regional attire and speaking in their respective mother tongues, showcasing the rich cultural diversity of South India.
Notably, the invites sent out for the event, included a roll-up pencil pouch made of Pochampally Ikat fabric (Telangana), colourful hand-made wood and lacquer Etikoppaka toys (Andhra Pradesh), a hand-painted fridge magnet that depicts Ganjifa art (Karnataka), a pouch made of Kancheepuram silk (Tamil Nadu), and a screw-pine weaved bookmark (Kerala).
All the items were enclosed in a bamboo box with Kalamkari (Andhra) motifs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Indonesian President, Prabowo Subianto attended the ‘At Home’ reception hosted by President Draupadi Murmu.
The event showcased a captivating cultural performance by musical artists from the southern states, highlighting traditional instruments such as the Veena, Violin, Mridangam, and flute. The performances celebrated the rich musical heritage of South India, adding a harmonious touch to the occasion.
Several artists performed during the event, including Veena player Aishwarya Manikarnike, Violinist Sumanth Manjunath, Mridangam player BC Manjunath, and Flutist Rajkamal N.
The event also witnessed a captivating performance by R. Teja, an eminent artist of Carnatic Instrumental- Nadaswaram and Thavil.
In the past, Teja performed at many prestigious music festivals in India and overseas including the prestigious Thyagaraja Aradhana and Brahma Gana Sabha. He has been honored with many prestigious awards including the Guinness World Record for the Largest Carnatic Band.
President Droupadi Murmu hosted a high tea session for the special invitees during the At Home reception, showcasing the rich culinary heritage of the southern states and offering a variety of dishes that captured the region’s traditional tastes and cultural significance.
Among the many dishes served to guests at the reception were Udupi Uddina Vada, Kondakadalai Sundal, Mysore Pak, and Dry Fruit Putharekalu.
Mysore Pak, a rich and delectable South Indian sweet made from ghee, sugar, and chickpea flour, is known for its smooth, melt-in-the-mouth texture. It originated in the royal kitchens of Mysore.
The “At Home” reception, a traditional event hosted by the President of India, is an annual event where distinguished guests from various fields are invited to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 26 evening.
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