The 10th National Handloom Day will be commemorated on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This significant day honors the handloom workers of India and acknowledges their contributions to the nation's cultural, traditional, and economic landscape. The celebrations also aim to raise awareness about the importance of the handloom sector in socio-economic development.
The Vice President of India will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Attendees will include Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs & Textiles Pabitra Margherita, Secretary of Textiles Rachna Shah, and Development Commissioner (Handlooms) Dr. M. Beena, along with other dignitaries such as MPs, eminent personalities, designers, exporters, and senior government officials. Over 800 weavers from across the country are expected to participate.
During the event, the prestigious Sant Kabir Awards and National Handloom Awards will be presented, recognizing outstanding contributions to the handloom industry. The Vice President will also release an award catalogue and a coffee table book titled ‘Parampara: Sustainability in Handloom Traditions of India.’
The inaugural function at Vigyan Bhawan will feature a fashion presentation by NIFT, film screenings on handlooms, certificate distribution to scheme beneficiaries, and technical sessions. Workshops will be conducted by celebrity sari draper Dolly Jain on sari trends, Padma Dr. Rajni Kant on GI, and officials on handloom schemes and e-marketing.
National Handloom Day will be celebrated nationwide, including at Weavers Service Centers, prominent handloom clusters, Indian Institutes of Handloom Technology, National Institute of Fashion Technology campuses, the National Handloom Development Corporation, the Textile Committee, and various state handloom departments.
The tradition of celebrating National Handloom Day began on August 7, 2015, inspired by the vision of the Prime Minister. The date commemorates the Swadeshi Movement, which began on August 7, 1905, promoting indigenous industries, especially handloom weaving.
To mark the 10th National Handloom Day, numerous activities have been planned, including a social media campaign through the MyGov portal featuring pledges, selfies, a design souvenir contest, and quizzes. Other events include "Virasat," an exclusive exhibition at Handloom Haat, New Delhi, from August 3-16, and at Delhi Haat INA from August 1-15, as well as a sourcing show in Varanasi from August 7-9. Additionally, "Know Your Weaves" will be held at the Crafts Museum from August 1-14.
Various state governments will organize handloom expos, and awareness activities will take place in colleges and other venues, engaging faculties and students from IIHTs and NIFT campuses through thematic displays, weaving demonstrations, panel discussions, and fashion presentations.
