IN SHORT
- Date: August 7, 2024
- Importance: Celebrates the contributions of handloom weavers to India’s economy and culture
- Historical Context: Rooted in the Swadeshi Movement of 1905
- Significance: Second-largest employer in India, promotes sustainable fashion
Every year on August 7, we mark National Handloom Day to recognize the invaluable contributions that handloom weavers make to India’s economy and culture. The occasion celebrates India’s rich handloom weaving heritage and its significance to the country’s socioeconomic structure.
History
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first National Handloom Day ceremony in Chennai in 2015. The Swadeshi Movement of 1905, which sought to boycott British items and promote Indian-made goods, is where the day’s beginnings may be found. Handloom fabrics, which stand for independence and patriotism, were important to this movement.
Significance
With almost 35 lakh workers, the handloom industry in India is the country’s second-largest employer after agriculture. Every part of India has its own unique handloom weaving techniques; some of the more well-known ones are from Maheshwari, Moirang Phee, Phulkari, Laheriya, Khandua, Banarasi, Jamdani, Baluchari, Madhubani, Kosa, Ikkat, Patola, and Tussar Silk.
In India, handloom weaving is a legacy that has been passed down through the centuries as well as a craft. It produces textiles that are ecologically friendly and culturally meaningful by using traditional values and practices. India’s rich weaving heritage is preserved by the handloom industry, which uses natural fabrics and traditional processes to create sustainable apparel.
Celebrations and Activities
In India, a variety of events and activities are held in honor of National Handloom Day with the goal of advancing and bolstering the handloom industry. These include lectures, workshops, and exhibitions aimed at increasing public knowledge of the importance of handloom goods and weavers’ abilities.
On National Handloom Day, India reaffirms its dedication to preserving its handloom legacy and enhancing the status of its weavers. It’s a day to honor the elaborate patterns, time-honored designs, and labor-intensive labor of millions of craftsmen who contribute to the cultural and economic prosperity of the country.
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