The Ministry of Textiles will celebrate the 12th National Handloom Day on 7 August 2026 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi, highlighting the Government’s continued efforts to preserve, promote and strengthen India’s handloom sector while recognizing the contribution of the country’s weaving community to cultural heritage and rural livelihoods.
President Droupadi Murmu will attend the event as the Chief Guest and present the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025. The programme will also be attended by Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita, Secretary (Textiles) Neelam Shami Rao, Development Commissioner (Handlooms) Dr M. Beena, Members of Parliament, senior government officials, industry representatives, master weavers, designers, exporters, artisans and award recipients from across the country.
A key highlight of the event will be the presentation of 22 awards, including three Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards. The honors recognize excellence in weaving, innovation, design development, marketing initiatives, start-up ventures and producer companies associated with the handloom sector. Instituted under the Handloom Marketing Assistance component of the National Handloom Development Programme, these awards represent the highest national recognition for outstanding contributions to India’s handloom ecosystem.
The Sant Kabir Handloom Award is the country’s highest honour for handloom weavers and celebrates exceptional craftsmanship, lifelong dedication and sustained efforts to preserve India’s weaving traditions. The National Handloom Award recognizes weavers and other stakeholders for excellence in creativity, quality, innovation and the successful integration of traditional skills with modern practices. Awardees are selected through a multi-level evaluation process conducted by expert committees to ensure transparency and merit-based recognition.
The celebrations will also feature the release of four commemorative postage stamps showcasing India’s diverse handloom traditions. Two publications, Earth. Root. Thread – Aal Dyed Handloom Textiles of Central India and the Handloom Awards Book 2025, will be unveiled during the event. An exhibition of award-winning handloom products will be organised alongside live demonstrations of traditional Kani weaving and wall hanging weaving, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the country’s rich textile craftsmanship.
Apart from the national event, exhibitions, designer conclaves, IIHT conclaves and other promotional programmes are being organised across India to mark National Handloom Day and encourage wider appreciation of the sector.
India’s handloom industry remains one of the country’s largest providers of sustainable rural employment, supporting the livelihoods of more than 35 lakh people. Women account for over 70 per cent of the workforce, underscoring the sector’s role in promoting inclusive economic growth. Beyond employment generation, the industry continues to safeguard India’s textile heritage while contributing to environmentally sustainable production practices.
Observed annually on 7 August, National Handloom Day commemorates the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7 August 1905, which gave renewed momentum to indigenous industries and the country’s handloom sector. Since its introduction in 2015, the observance has celebrated the skill and craftsmanship of India’s weavers while reaffirming the Government’s commitment to the sector’s long-term growth and development.
