On National Handloom Day 2026, President Droupadi Murmu honoured 22 exceptional artisans, weavers, and cooperatives at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, underscoring the importance of India’s handloom sector. The event, held on August 7, featured the prestigious Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025 recognizing remarkable craftsmanship and innovation in weaving.
This year’s award recipients, hailing from diverse states, showcased a wide range of weaving traditions, including the celebrated Kanchipuram silk and intricate Banarasi Jamdani, along with unique textiles like the Tangaliya weaving from Gujarat and the traditional Lepcha textiles of Sikkim. These awards aim to preserve India’s rich handloom heritage and promote excellence in craftsmanship.
The Sant Kabir Handloom Awards, the highest civilian honour in this domain, were conferred upon three distinguished artisans. Ram Meher from Odisha received recognition for his exceptional Bichitpar Khadi Saree, while Assam’s Runima Chetiya Choudhury was acknowledged for her exquisite Muga Silk Saree. Uttar Pradesh’s Shah Muhammad Ansari earned accolades for his craft in creating the rare Zarbaft Shewatambari Awadh Jamdhani Saree, contributing to the recognition of traditional weaving arts.
Nineteen additional awardees were recognised under various categories of the National Handloom Awards. Categories included weaving excellence, design development, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Among the notable recipients, artisans producing Kanchipuram Silk Sarees from Tamil Nadu and styles like Ikat Sarees from Telangana were celebrated, highlighting the country’s vibrant textile legacy.
Special categories of the National Handloom Awards also acknowledged women weavers, young artisans, tribal weaves, divyang weavers, and those reviving endangered weaving traditions. This inclusivity reflects India’s commitment to supporting diverse contributions within the handloom community.
The awards reached beyond traditional weaving to also honour innovation in design and marketing. Gopinathan MV of Tamil Nadu and Mantu Basak of West Bengal received accolades for design development, showcasing modern applications of age-old techniques. Similarly, individuals like N. Venkateswara Rao from Andhra Pradesh and the CH-31 Kovilvazhi Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society of Tamil Nadu were recognised for their marketing prowess, ensuring that handloom products find their place in modern marketplaces. Furthermore, Assam’s Marvella Associates triumphed in the Start-up Ventures/Producer Company category, representing emerging talent in the sector.
The impressive list of awardees spans 13 states and Union Territories, reflecting India’s immense diversity in textile traditions. From the luxurious silks synonymous with Indian culture to intricate Jamdani weaving and sustainable natural-dyed textiles, these awards brought attention to the depth and breadth of our regional craftsmanship.
August 7 marks National Handloom Day each year, commemorating the pivotal Swadeshi Movement of 1905. The celebration serves as a reminder of the handloom sector’s vital role in preserving cultural heritage, generating rural employment, and supporting millions of weaving families across the nation. By honouring these artisans who dedicate their lives to preserving traditional weaving techniques, the awards reaffirm India’s commitment to safeguarding one of its oldest and most vibrant craft traditions.
