Guwahati: Cultural artefacts from Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura feature among the highlights of the third edition of E-Upahaar, the online auction of gifts presented to the President during official engagements.
Organised by Rashtrapati Bhavan, the auction is underway and will conclude on September 4. According to the catalogue, the initiative seeks to turn ceremonial gifts into instruments of social welfare, with proceeds supporting various welfare initiatives.
Among the Assam exhibits is a Guru Asana commemorative plaque, inspired by the sacred wooden throne associated with 16th-century Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
The multi-tiered structure, central to Assamese Vaishnavite monasteries, or satras, symbolises spiritual wisdom and the state’s religious and cultural traditions. Its highest quoted price is Rs 10,000.
Another Assamese memento, a “From the Land of Gibbon” commemorative plaque, highlights the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, the country’s only sanctuary dedicated to the endangered hoolock gibbon.
The plaque was gifted to President Droupadi Murmu by MLA Rupjyoti Kumari and celebrates Assam’s biodiversity and conservation efforts. Its highest quoted price is Rs 3,200.
Nagaland is represented by a painting of a traditional Mao tribal couple, featuring colourful attire, bead ornaments, handcrafted vessels and motifs reflecting the community’s close relationship with nature.
The artwork captures the cultural identity and artistic traditions of one of Nagaland’s prominent Naga communities. Its highest quoted price is Rs 12,000.
Manipur’s entries include a miniature of the endangered Sangai deer, the state’s iconic “dancing deer” found only in Keibul Lamjao National Park, as well as a sculpture of a polo player on horseback. The polo sculpture has a highest quoted price of Rs 7,000.
The three-dimensional sculpture depicts a polo player poised to strike the ball, with the horse shown in motion.
Mounted on a rectangular base with a golden plaque, it pays tribute to polo’s deep historical association with Manipur and the Meitei civilisation.
Another prominent Manipur exhibit is a finely crafted replica of Kangla Sanathong, the historic gateway to Kangla Fort in Imphal.
The structure is an important symbol of the history and architecture of the erstwhile Meitei kingdom. Its highest quoted price is Rs 20,000.
Mizoram’s contribution is a plaque depicting Cheraw, or the bamboo dance, one of the state’s best-known folk traditions.
The artwork portrays the rhythmic dance performed between clapped bamboo poles and celebrates Mizo cultural heritage and community traditions. Its highest quoted price is Rs 15,000.
Tripura is represented by a bamboo replica of the Tripureshwari Temple at Udaipur, one of the country’s revered Shakti Peethas.
The model showcases traditional bamboo craftsmanship while highlighting one of the state’s important pilgrimage sites. Its highest quoted price is Rs 10,100.
The catalogue also features a commemorative plaque marking the Platinum Jubilee of the Gauhati High Court, whose jurisdiction extends over Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram, underscoring the institution’s significance in the Northeast.
The auction catalogue describes the gifts as more than ceremonial objects, saying they embody India’s cultural diversity, artistic traditions and the stories of communities from across the country.
The initiative also offers bidders an opportunity to acquire objects associated with presidential engagements while contributing to welfare initiatives.
In doing so, the auction transforms ceremonial mementoes into a means of supporting a broader social cause.
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