The Ministry of Textiles will celebrate the 12th National Handloom Day on 7 August 2026 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC), New Delhi, reaffirming the Government's commitment to preserving, promoting and strengthening India's rich handloom heritage while recognising the invaluable contribution of the country's handloom weaving community to the nation's cultural and economic development.
The Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, will grace the celebrations as the Chief Guest and present the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025. The function will also be attended by the Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of State for Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita, Secretary (Textiles), Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Dr. M. Beena, Members of Parliament, senior Government officials, representatives of the handloom industry, master weavers, designers, exporters, artisans, Sant Kabir and National Handloom Awardees, and other distinguished guests from across the country.
A major highlight of the celebrations will be the conferment of 22 prestigious awards, comprising 3 Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards, recognising outstanding achievements in weaving, innovation, design development, marketing initiatives, start-up ventures and producer companies associated with the handloom sector. Instituted under the Handloom Marketing Assistance (HMA) component of the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), these awards represent the highest national recognition for excellence in India's handloom ecosystem.
The Sant Kabir Handloom Award, the country's highest honour for handloom weavers, recognises extraordinary craftsmanship, lifelong dedication and sustained contribution towards preserving and promoting India's weaving traditions. The National Handloom Award honours handloom weavers and other stakeholders who have demonstrated outstanding creativity, quality, innovation and excellence while preserving traditional skills and embracing modern techniques. The awardees are selected through a rigorous multi-level evaluation process involving expert committees to ensure transparency, objectivity and recognition of excellence across all segments of the handloom sector.
The celebrations will also witness the release of four commemorative postage stamps celebrating India's rich and diverse handloom weaving traditions. Two publications, "Earth. Root. Thread – Aal Dyed Handloom Textiles of Central India" and the Handloom Awards Book 2025, will also be unveiled during the function. An exhibition of award-winning handloom products will be organised on the sidelines of the event, while live demonstrations of traditional Kani weaving and Wall Hanging weaving will offer visitors a glimpse into the diversity, artistry and craftsmanship of India's handloom traditions.
In addition to the national function, exhibitions, designer conclaves, IIHT conclaves and other promotional activities are being organised across the country to mark National Handloom Day and celebrate the country's vibrant handloom traditions.
India's handloom sector continues to be one of the country's largest sources of sustainable rural employment, supporting the livelihoods of more than 35 lakh people, with women constituting over 70 per cent of the workforce. Besides its significant contribution to the rural economy, the sector remains a custodian of India's rich textile heritage and an important contributor to environmentally sustainable production practices.
Observed every year on 7 August, National Handloom Day commemorates the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7 August 1905, which gave renewed impetus to indigenous industries and India's handloom sector. Since its inception in 2015, the observance has celebrated the artistry, skill and dedication of India's handloom weavers while reaffirming the Government's commitment to the preservation, promotion and sustainable development of the handloom sector.