VIRAASAT- honouring India’s handloom tradition

VIRAASAT- honouring India’s handloom tradition

Context

“VIRAASAT”, an exhibition celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day, commenced at Handloom Haat in Janpath, New Delhi, on 3rd August 2024.

• Organized by the National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC) under the Ministry of Textiles, the event will run until 16th August 2024.
• This exhibition aims to honour India’s handloom tradition and provide market connectivity to weavers and artisans.

 

 

Key Highlights

• Exhibition Details: The exhibition is open to the public from 11 am to 8 pm, featuring handloom products from various exotic locations in India.
• Activities and Stalls: The event includes 75 stalls for handloom weavers and artisans, workshops on natural dyes, kasturi cotton, design and exports, live loom demonstrations, folk dances, and regional cuisines.
• Prime Minister’s Appreciation: During the 112th episode of Mann ki Baat, the Prime Minister praised the handloom artisans and encouraged people to share photos of local products on social media with the hashtag ‘#MyProductMyPride’.
• Historical Context: National Handloom Day commemorates the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7th August 1905, which encouraged indigenous industries and handloom weavers.
  • The first National Handloom Day was celebrated on 7th August 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai.

Importance to India

• Cultural Heritage: The handloom sector symbolizes India’s rich and varied cultural heritage, employing 35 lakh people directly or indirectly, making it the second-largest employer after agriculture.
• Economic Contribution: Handloom weaving is integral to socio-economic development, contributing significantly to the economy and providing livelihoods to millions of artisans and weavers.
• Unique Products: Handloom products such as Banarasi, Jamdani, Baluchari, Madhubani, Kosa, Ikkat, Patola, and many others, are renowned globally for their exclusive weaves, designs, and traditional motifs.

Need for Such a Move

• Empowering Artisans: The exhibition aims to protect the handloom heritage, empower weavers, and enhance their financial stability by improving market access.
• Sustainable Development: Promoting sustainable development in the handloom sector ensures environmental conservation while supporting artisans’ livelihoods.
• Market Identity: Government initiatives like branding high-quality products with zero defects and zero environmental impact help create a distinct identity for handloom products, ensuring they are genuinely handcrafted.

Way Forward

• Promoting Handloom Products: Continued support for exhibitions like “VIRAASAT” can boost the market for handloom products and increase earnings for the handloom community.
• Government Schemes: Expanding and effectively implementing government schemes to support handloom artisans can enhance the sector’s growth and sustainability.
• Public Awareness: Increasing public awareness about the value of handloom products and encouraging the purchase of these items can help sustain the handloom tradition.
• Technological Integration: Integrating modern technology with traditional handloom practices can improve efficiency and innovation in the sector, ensuring its long-term viability.