President Murmu presentes Kabir Handloom and National Handloom Awards
The President Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the 12th National Handloom Day celebrations and presented the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and the National Handloom Awards 2025 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi, today (August 8, 2026). Four commemorative postage stamps celebrating India’s rich and diverse handloom weaving traditions were also released on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the President said that handloom has been an integral part of the evolutionary journey of India’s civilization for centuries. It reflects the extraordinary diversity of our nation and has preserved our regional uniqueness. The handloom sector fosters employment, women’s empowerment, art and culture, and love for nature. Handloom has also been linked to India’s freedom struggle and the spirit of self-reliance.
The Sant Kabir Handloom Award is the country’s highest honour for handloom weavers, recognising their extraordinary craftsmanship, lifelong dedication, and sustained contributions towards preserving and promoting India’s weaving traditions. The National Handloom Award honours handloom weavers and other stakeholders who have demonstrated outstanding creativity, quality, innovation and excellence while preserving traditional skills and embracing modern techniques.(UPDATED ON 7TH AUGUST 2026)
