The Weaves of India Festival is being held from 24 July to 7 August 2026 at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium, Janpath, New Delhi. It is organised by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles.
Weaves of India Festival
- Exhibit scale: 116 heritage weaves from different regions of India are on display.
- Representative traditions: Banarasi, Jamdani, Kanchipuram silk and Sambalpuri Ikat feature among the exhibits.
- Venue role: Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE) functions as a government retail outlet for handicrafts and handloom products.
Handloom: definition and institutional linkages
- Definition: Cloth woven on a loom operated by hand without power-driven machinery.
- Regulator: Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms) administers handloom programmes under the Ministry of Textiles.
- Key schemes: National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) and the Handloom Mark are central interventions for market support and quality identification.
National Handloom Day
- Date: Observed annually on 7 August.
- Origin: First observed in 2015 to commemorate the 1905 Swadeshi Movement.
- 2026 edition: Marks the 12th National Handloom Day.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Sectoral linkages: Handloom is associated with khadi and village industries and rural employment generation.
- CCIE location: Janpath, New Delhi — commonly used for government-led handloom displays and sales.