Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens to promote local fabrics and traditional weaving on the occasion of National Handloom Day 2026. Sharing a video on social media, he said every citizen has an important role in strengthening India's rich handicrafts and handloom sector.
The Prime Minister urged people to actively participate on social media by showcasing local handloom products and presenting the diversity of Indian textiles to the world through the "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM) trend. He said digital platforms have become an effective medium for carrying India's cultural heritage to younger generations. He encouraged people to share photographs and videos featuring their favourite handloom garments and textiles to help traditional weaving and Indian handicrafts gain wider recognition. He also appealed to social media users to use the hashtag #NationalHandloomDay.
National Handloom Day is observed annually on August 7 in India. The day commemorates the Swadeshi Movement launched in 1905, which played an important role in promoting Indian industries and locally made products. The handloom sector represents an important part of India's cultural identity and remains a major source of livelihood for millions of people.
According to experts, India's handloom industry is among the world's largest traditional textile sectors. It preserves centuries-old weaving techniques, regional crafts and handmade textile traditions. The sector is also regarded as being aligned with global demand for sustainable fashion because of its environmentally friendly production system.
On the occasion of National Handloom Day, the Ministry of Textiles will organise the 12th National Handloom Day celebration at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. The event will recognise India's diverse weaving traditions, handmade textiles and the contribution of the weaving community. President Droupadi Murmu will attend the समारोह as the chief guest.
Union Minister for Textiles, senior officials of the Ministry of Textiles, weavers from different states, design experts, industry representatives and other distinguished guests will also be present.
During the event, outstanding weavers and artisans from across the country will be honoured. A total of 22 awards will be presented, including three Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards. The awards aim to recognise artisans who have made significant contributions to preserving traditional weaving techniques, promoting innovation and enhancing the identity of Indian handloom products. An exhibition featuring the works of the award recipients will also be organised, allowing visitors to view regional weaving styles from across India.
The celebration will also include the release of publications related to the handloom sector and demonstrations of various traditional weaving techniques. Visitors will have an opportunity to see Kani weaving, Kutch crafts, textiles produced using natural dyes and other handmade products. According to experts, the combination of modern design and traditional craftsmanship has created new opportunities for India's handloom industry in global markets. They said several international fashion brands and designers are showing interest in Indian handmade textiles.
India's handloom industry provides direct and indirect employment to more than 3.5 million people. Women's participation in the sector is particularly significant, accounting for a large share of the workforce. The handloom industry is also regarded as playing an important role in strengthening the rural economy.
