Bhubaneswar: Odisha celebrated the 11th National Handloom Day with a vibrant state-level event at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar, where renowned Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit joined as a special guest to honour the artistry and heritage of India’s handloom sector.
Organised by the Odisha government, the event featured the Exhibition-cum-Knowledge Sharing for Textile Advantage (EKTA), which was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Odisha’s Co-operation and Handloom, Textile and Handicrafts Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta was also present to mark the occasion.
Madhuri Dixit lauded the craftsmanship of Indian weavers and urged the public to embrace handloom products as a symbol of cultural pride and sustainable fashion. She expressed admiration for Odisha’s textile traditions, calling them “a beautiful blend of heritage and innovation.”
National Handloom Day, observed on August 7 every year, commemorates the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905—an important chapter in India’s freedom struggle that encouraged the use of indigenous goods, particularly handwoven textiles. Since 2015, the day has served as a national tribute to the country’s handloom weavers.
In addition to celebrating the legacy of Indian textiles, the event also looked to the future. The announcement of the Handloom Hackathon 2025 signalled a strong focus on innovation, aiming to modernise the sector through technology and collaborative problem-solving.
The celebration not only honoured the past but also paved the way for empowering artisans and promoting sustainable growth in the handloom industry.
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