On 7th August 2023, the 9th National Handloom Day celebrations took place at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, where the Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed the gathering. This day serves as an occasion to recognize and appreciate the handloom weavers for their substantial contribution to the country's socio-economic progress. Notably, the handloom weaving industry empowers women significantly, with over 70% of this sector's workforce comprising women.

The history of National Handloom Day dates back to the Swadeshi Movement, which started on 7th August 1905, during India's freedom struggle.
The Swadeshi Movement aimed to boost domestic production and decrease reliance on foreign imports, including textiles.
As a result of the movement, the Khadi fabric gained immense popularity and was widely adopted by households throughout the country.
The promotion of Khadi fabric played a crucial role in supporting the handloom industry and empowering local artisans and weavers.
To commemorate this historical significance and recognize the importance of handloom weavers in India's socio-economic progress, National Handloom Day is now celebrated annually on 7th August.

Significance of National Handloom Day

National Handloom Day holds great significance in creating awareness about the crucial role played by the handloom weaving community and the impact of this sector on our country's socio-economic development.
On this day, we honour and appreciate the handloom weavers for their significant contribution to the country's socio-economic progress.
We reaffirm our commitment to preserving our handloom heritage while striving to provide better opportunities and support for handloom weavers and workers.