National Handloom Day: Modi vows continued support for weavers, women-led rural empowerment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday marked National Handloom Day by celebrating India’s rich handloom heritage and reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting weavers and artisans. He described the sector as an important pillar of rural empowerment, women-led development and an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

In a post on X, Modi paid tribute to generations of artisans who have preserved India’s traditional craftsmanship and urged citizens to promote handloom products through social media using the hashtag #NationalHandloomDay.

The Ministry of Textiles is observing the 12th National Handloom Day at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi, with President Droupadi Murmu as the Chief Guest. The celebrations will include the presentation of the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards for 2025. A total of 22 awards—three Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards—will be presented for craftsmanship, innovation and contributions to preserving India’s handloom traditions.

Four commemorative postage stamps and two publications on India’s handloom heritage will also be released. An exhibition of award-winning products, along with live demonstrations of traditional weaving techniques, will be held as part of the celebrations.

According to the Ministry of Textiles, the handloom sector supports the livelihoods of more than 35 lakh people, with women accounting for over 70 per cent of the workforce. It remains an important custodian of India’s textile traditions and contributes to sustainable production.

National Handloom Day is observed on August 7 to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement launched on the same day in 1905. The day was officially launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Modi in Chennai to recognise the contribution of handloom weavers to India’s cultural heritage and socio-economic development.

Gujarat is also a major centre of handloom craftsmanship, with traditional weaves such as Patola and Kutch textiles gaining international recognition. According to the Gujarat CMO, the sector supports more than 12,000 weavers and artisans and has generated business exceeding Rs 51.07 crore. (ANI)

Also Read: During the Screening of “Ohh My Dog”, Raveena Tandon Urges Compassion for Animals