The Ministry of Textiles celebrated the 12th National Handloom Day on 7 August 2026 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. The Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, served as Chief Guest and presented 22 prestigious awards comprising 3 Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards for 2025. These awards represent the highest national recognition for excellence in India's handloom ecosystem, instituted under the Handloom Marketing Assistance component of the National Handloom Development Programme.
The Sant Kabir Handloom Award recognizes extraordinary craftsmanship, lifelong dedication, and sustained contribution towards preserving and promoting India's weaving traditions. The National Handloom Award honors handloom weavers and stakeholders who have demonstrated outstanding creativity, quality, innovation, and excellence while preserving traditional skills and embracing modern techniques. Awardees are selected through a rigorous multi-level evaluation process involving expert committees to ensure transparency and objectivity.
The event featured the release of four commemorative postage stamps celebrating India's diverse handloom weaving traditions and the unveiling of two publications: "Earth. Root. Thread – Aal Dyed Handloom Textiles of Central India" and the Handloom Awards Book 2025. An exhibition of award-winning handloom products was organized alongside live demonstrations of traditional Kani weaving and Wall Hanging weaving.
India's handloom sector remains 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% of the workforce. The sector contributes significantly to the rural economy while serving as custodian of India's rich textile heritage and promoting environmentally sustainable production practices. National Handloom Day commemorates the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7 August 1905, which gave renewed impetus to indigenous industries and India's handloom sector.