The Ministry of Textiles will celebrate the 12th National Handloom Day at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC), reaffirming the government’s commitment to India’s rich handloom heritage.
Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu will grace the occasion as Chief Guest and present the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025. The event will also be attended by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, MoS Pabitra Margherita, senior officials, MPs, master weavers, designers, exporters, artisans, and awardees.
A major highlight will be the conferment of 22 prestigious awards – 3 Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards – recognising excellence in weaving, innovation, design, marketing, and entrepreneurship. The awards, instituted under the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), represent the highest national recognition for handloom excellence.
The celebrations will also feature the release of four commemorative postage stamps, unveiling of two publications – Earth. Root. Thread – Aal Dyed Handloom Textiles of Central India and the Handloom Awards Book 2025 – along with exhibitions and live demonstrations of traditional weaving.
National Handloom Day, observed annually on 7 August, commemorates the Swadeshi Movement of 1905 and honours the artistry and dedication of India’s weaving community, which sustains over 35 lakh livelihoods, with women forming more than 70% of the workforce.
