August 7 is celebrated as National Handloom Day in India since 2015. This date specifically chosen to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement, launched on the same date in 1905. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Textiles is organising the function through a virtual platform to avoid public gathering.
To mark this occasion and to instil pride of workmanship of handloom weaving amongst citizens, a social media campaign is planned for the handloom weaving community, the Textiles Ministry said.
Women’s participation
“Prime Minister has urged that it should be an endeavour on part of all of us to use Indian handlooms and handicrafts and also communicate with other people about them. The more the world knows about the richness and diversity of these products, the greater our artisans and weavers will benefit,” it added. The handloom sector is a symbol of India’s glorious cultural heritage and an important source of livelihood in the country. The sector is key to women empowerment as over 70 per cent of handloom weavers and allied workers are women.
“Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has appealed to all Central Government Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers of states, Members of Parliament and eminent Industrialists with friends and family to express solidarity with the weaving community through their social media accounts so as to motivate others to do the same,” stated the ministry.
Vocal for local
“In times of crisis, this local has fulfilled our demand, this local has saved us. Local is not just the need, it is our responsibility also,” he had said in his address to the nation in May. Time, the prime minister said, has taught us that “we must make the local as a mantra of our life.”
Going online
A social media campaign is planned for the handloom weaving community. This year, a mobile application and backend website for the Handloom Mark Scheme will also be launched on the occasion. The Ministry of Textiles is organizing the function through a virtual platform to avoid public gathering considering COVID-19 pandemic.
The Handloom Export Promotion Council is organizing a virtual fair. The fair will connect more than 150 participants from different regions of the country showcasing their products with unique designs and skills. The Indian Textile Sourcing Fair will be open on 7, 10 and 11 August. Exquisite Patolas, Paithanis, Ikats, Kandangis, Maheshwaris, Venkatagiris and numerous other GI tagged products will be on display for the International buying community to source their products directly from the masters themselves.
Textile ministry
“Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has appealed to all Central Government Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Ministers of states, Members of Parliament and eminent Industrialists with friends and family to express solidarity with the weaving community through their social media accounts so as to motivate others to do the same,” stated the ministry.
The ministry has extended a similar request to Secretaries of the Government of India and equivalent level officers. Besides, all the Secretaries of the State’s export promotion councils, sister textile bodies like central silk board, National Jute Board have been asked to amplify the social media campaign under the common hashtag, inspiring associates and employees to embrace handloom fabric, the ministry said. The Government is providing online marketing opportunities to weavers and handloom producers in the face of the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, and inability to hold conventional marketing events such as exhibitions, melas, etc. Source:PTI
Quiz organised
An online quiz titled ‘Know your handlooms’ is also conducted this year. The quiz has two sets; one is for school students, and the other is for the general public. Both quizzes comprise of 20 questions each, with a time limit of 300 seconds. The winners will be rewarded with cash prizes as well.
This year Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with MyGov is organizing Quiz Contest on Handlooms on the occasion of National Handloom Day 7th August 2020. The quiz will emphasize on acknowledging weavers of the country who, through generations, have been carrying forward the valuable tradition of weaving and making us proud with their designs and motifs over the years. Through this quiz, MyGov is making an honest attempt at giving due recognition to the weaving tradition and the weavers of the country.