Bhubaneswar, Aug. 7: Odisha’s centuries-old weaving tradition is set to receive national acclaim with two distinguished artisans from the state being selected for the country’s highest handloom honours. President Droupadi Murmu will confer the awards during the 12th National Handloom Day celebrations at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi on Friday.
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Ram Meher of Bargarh has been chosen for the coveted Sant Kabir Handloom Award 2025, the highest national recognition for excellence in handloom weaving, while Prafulla Kumar Sahoo of Jagatsinghpur will receive the National Handloom Award 2025. Their selection follows a rigorous evaluation process that recognised their exceptional craftsmanship, innovation and sustained contribution to preserving India’s traditional weaving heritage.
The awards ceremony will honour 22 outstanding achievers from across the country, including three recipients of the Sant Kabir Handloom Award and 19 National Handloom Award winners. Presented under the Handloom Marketing Assistance component of the National Handloom Development Programme, the awards acknowledge excellence in weaving, design, entrepreneurship, marketing and producer organisations associated with the sector.
The Sant Kabir Handloom Award, considered the highest honour for handloom artisans in India, recognises master weavers whose lifelong dedication has helped safeguard and enrich the country’s rich textile traditions.
As part of the National Handloom Day celebrations, the Ministry of Textiles will also release four commemorative postage stamps depicting India’s diverse handloom heritage, celebrating the artistry and cultural significance of traditional weaving across different regions.
National Handloom Day is observed every year on August 7 to commemorate the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905, which marked a defining moment in promoting indigenous industries and revitalising India’s handloom sector. Since its inception in 2015, the annual observance has served as a platform to honour the skill and dedication of handloom weavers while reaffirming efforts to preserve and strengthen the sector.
Tomorrow, 7th August is National Handloom Day. Let’s make India’s handloom diversity popular.
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— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 6, 2026
On the eve of the celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India’s weaving community, describing National Handloom Day as a tribute to the enduring spirit of the Swadeshi movement and the remarkable craftsmanship of the nation’s master artisans. Highlighting India’s rich textile legacy, he made special mention of Odisha’s internationally acclaimed Sambalpuri, Bomkai and Kotpad weaves, describing them as enduring symbols of the country’s cultural heritage and artistic excellence.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to empowering artisan families, the Prime Minister said the growth of the handloom sector remains integral to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He also called upon citizens to strengthen the Vocal for Local movement by embracing handloom products and taking pride in India’s indigenous craftsmanship.
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