The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, in collaboration with the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University, observed the 12th National Handloom Day on 7th August 2026 under the theme “Hands that Weave the Nation.” The event celebrated India’s textile heritage as well as explored pathways for sustainability.
The programme commenced with an address by anchor Dr. Ananya Dash, who highlighted the historical significance of textiles, their role in freedom movements, and departmental skilling schemes. While setting the context, she also shared about the Handloom Exhibition which was organized to mark the occasion. It showcased handmade indigenous products manufactured at KISS Vocational Unit. The Co-anchor Mr. Debarchan Chakrabarty shared the core objectives of KISS DU and highlighted the contribution of Founder, KISS and KIIT Dr. Achyuta Samanta.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Prashanta Kumar Routray, Registrar of KISS Deemed to be University, highlighted the historical importance of August 7th, emphasizing the university’s commitment to sustainable livelihoods and vocational training. Dr. Pragyan Mohanty, Dean, School of Tribal Legal Studies and Tribal Rights introduced the distinguished guests. Speaking in turn, Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar of KIIT DU, focused on the socio-economic impact of handloom products on indigenous communities, advocating for wearing handloom attire weekly to support local weavers.
Dr. Binay Bhusan Jena, Chairperson of Fashion Management Studies at NIFT Bhubaneswar, noted that National Handloom Day was instituted by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to honor the Swadeshi Movement launched on August 7th, 1905. He discussed positive industry growth, rising awareness, and emerging benchmarks like the Digital Product Passport (DPP), Eco-design Sustainable Product Regulations (ESPR), and GI clusters in Odisha.
Sharing field research from Bastar, Nabarangpur, and Koraput, Ms. Pankaja Sethi, an acclaimed textile designer and social entrepreneur, inspired students to take pride in traditional textiles. She noted that 60% of Odisha’s population uses indigenous handlooms. Furthermore, she urged for digitization and advanced showcase techniques to maintain regional leadership.
Mr. J. P. Singh, Managing Director of JP Handloom and JPH Exports Pvt. Ltd., highlighted his company’s export footprint across 13 countries. He emphasized that every handloom product tells a story, advising students to leverage professional websites, social media pages, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to build global market linkages.
In his presidential address, Prof. Saranjit Singh, VC, KIIT DU and also VC-In-Charge, KISS DU talked about the significance of business frameworks like the “Career Quadrant” and the “North Star”. Sharing an anecdote about his brother’s entrepreneurial journey—transitioning from leather technology employment at TATA to launching a successful global brand, 3D Creations. Drawing reference from this anecdote, he illustrated how passion transforms into a profession, reaffirming that KISS is building a robust ecosystem to mentor indigenous student entrepreneurs.
Following a formal felicitation ceremony, the gathering watched a live broadcast of the national celebrations from the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC) in New Delhi, graced by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. The President conferred the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards (2025) to 21 master weavers, launched a commemorative Coffee Table Book, and released a special postage stamp. In her address, President Smt. Droupadi Murmu highlighted women’s empowerment, noting high female participation in the workforce. She also recalled her childhood memories of national movements. Hon’ble President concluded her deliberation with policy recommendations to secure a prosperous future for weaver communities.
The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Anubhav Patnaik, Director of KISS Skill, who expressed deep gratitude to the gathering.
