National Handloom Day 2026

India observed the 12th National Handloom Day on 7 August 2026. The observance was first declared in 2015 to honour the weaving community and to mark the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7 August 1905.

National Handloom Day

National Handloom Day is observed every year on 7 August in India. The date is linked to the Swadeshi Movement, which promoted indigenous goods and hand-spun cloth in 1905.

Handloom Sector in India

The handloom sector in India supports 35.22 lakh weavers and allied workers. More than 72% of this workforce, or 25.46 lakh persons, are women.

Awards and Government Initiatives

The Union Government conferred 22 awards for 2025, including 3 Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards. The government also released four commemorative postage stamps and launched two publications titled Earth. Root. Thread – Aal Dyed Handloom Textiles of Central India and the Handloom Awards Book 2025.

Important Facts for Exams

• National Handloom Day was first observed in 2015.
• The Swadeshi Movement began on 7 August 1905.
• The e-Pehchan portal was launched in January 2025 for digital identity cards for weavers.
• About 84,000 additional workers were approved on the e-Pehchan portal by July 2026.

Venue and Craft Demonstrations

The central celebration was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. The venue hosted an exhibition of award-winning textiles and live demonstrations of Kani weaving and Wall Hanging weaving.

Welfare and Identity Support

The e-Pehchan portal is a digital identity system for weavers under the handloom sector. It was launched in January 2025 and expanded its coverage by July 2026.