National Handloom Day is commemorated in India on August 7 each year. National Handloom Day is observed in India to raise public awareness about the handloom sector and its significance to the nation’s socio-economic development. This year it will be the 8th commemoration of National Handloom Day.
The handloom sector is a symbol of our country’s rich and varied cultural heritage and is an important source of livelihood in rural and semi-rural parts of our country. It is also a sector that directly addresses women’s empowerment with over 70% of all weavers and allied workers being female. Rooted in nature, it has eco-friendly production processes with minimal requirement of capital and power and provides flexibility to innovate to meet changes in fashion trends and fast-changing customer preferences.
What is handloom:
A ‘handloom’ is a loom that is used to weave cloth without the use of any electricity. Hand weaving is done on pit looms or frame looms generally located in weavers’ homes. Weaving is primarily the interlacing of two sets of yarn – the warp (length) and the weft (width).
National Handloom Day History:
In 2015, the Government of India decided to designate the 7th of August every year, as the National Handloom Day. The first National Handloom Day was inaugurated on 7 August 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai.
Why it is important to celebrate National Handloom Day:
Almost 15% of cloth production in the country comes from the handloom industry. Handwoven cloths or fabrics from India account for 95% of the world’s production of handwoven fabric. The handloom industry also has a flourishing export market.
India is home to so many beautiful and rich handlooms and textiles. The country produces roughly 85 percent of the world’s handwoven products. Indian state Assam has the highest number of handlooms and this sector is the second largest employer next to agriculture.
Celebrations on National Handloom Day
On this special occasion, Indians can do any of the following things:
- Attend Handloom Fairs
- Support Weavers
- Spread Awareness about Indian Handloom