PRESIDENT OF INDIA PRESENTS THE SANT KABIR HANDLOOM AWARDS AND NATIONAL HANDLOOM AWARDS 2025

Newdelhi:7/8/26:The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the 12th National Handloom Day celebrations and presented the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and the National Handloom Awards 2025 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi, today (August 8, 2026). Four commemorative postage stamps celebrating India’s rich and diverse handloom weaving traditions were also released on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the President said that handloom has been an integral part of the evolutionary journey of India’s civilization for centuries. It reflects the extraordinary diversity of our nation and has preserved our regional uniqueness. The handloom sector fosters employment, women’s empowerment, art and culture, and love for nature. Handloom has also been linked to India’s freedom struggle and the spirit of self-reliance.

The President said that the Swadeshi Movement was formally launched on August 7, 1905. Initiated in protest against the Partition of Bengal, the movement aimed to promote indigenous goods, domestic industries, and, in particular, the country’s handloom weavers. In honour of this historic event, the Government of India has been observing August 7 as National Handloom Day since 2015. She congratulated everyone associated with the handloom sector on National Handloom Day. She said that this event is a celebration of the diversity that defines our country’s cultural unity. It is an occasion to acknowledge the collaborative efforts of the government and the weaving community in establishing a premium-quality image for India’s handloom sector.

The President said that the Swadeshi Movement was formally launched on August 7, 1905. Initiated in protest against the Partition of Bengal, the movement aimed to promote indigenous goods, domestic industries, and, in particular, the country’s handloom weavers. In honour of this historic event, the Government of India has been observing August 7 as National Handloom Day since 2015. She congratulated everyone associated with the handloom sector on National Handloom Day. She said that this event is a celebration of the diversity that defines our country’s cultural unity. It is an occasion to acknowledge the collaborative efforts of the government and the weaving community in establishing a premium-quality image for India’s handloom sector.

The Sant Kabir Handloom Award is the country’s highest honour for handloom weavers, recognising their extraordinary craftsmanship, lifelong dedication, and sustained contributions 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.