Bhubaneswar: Two handloom weavers from Odisha will be felicitated by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on Friday as part of the 12th National Handloom Day celebrations.
As per reports, Ram Meher of Baragada has been chosen for the Sant Kabir Handloom Award 2025, the highest national recognition given to handloom weavers. Prafulla Kumar Sahoo of Jagatsinghpur will receive the National Handloom Award 2025. Both have been selected for their exceptional skill, innovation and contribution to the handloom sector after a multi-stage evaluation by expert panels.
The awards ceremony will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, where the President will be the chief guest. A total of 22 awards will be presented during the occasion including three Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards. These awards honour excellence in weaving, design, marketing, startups and producer organisations linked to the handloom industry. These awards are conferred under the Handloom Marketing Assistance component of the National Handloom Development Programme.
The Sant Kabir Award, in particular, celebrates lifelong dedication and outstanding craftsmanship that help preserve India’s traditional weaving heritage.
The celebrations will also witness the release of four commemorative postage stamps celebrating India’s rich and diverse handloom weaving traditions.
Observed every year on 7 August, National Handloom Day commemorates the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7 August 1905, which gave renewed impetus to indigenous industries and India’s handloom sector. Since its inception in 2015, the observance has celebrated the artistry, skill and dedication of India’s handloom weavers while reaffirming the Government’s commitment to the preservation, promotion and sustainable development of the handloom sector.
