THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 7, 2026
Reaffirming their long-standing commitment to preserving
India’s rich handloom legacy and empowering traditional weavers, KIIT Deemed to
be University and KISS celebrated the 12th National Handloom Day with great
enthusiasm on Friday. The celebrations also marked KAANCHI 2026, an initiative
aimed at promoting and encouraging the use of handloom products while creating
greater awareness among the younger generation about the country’s timeless
weaving traditions. The event brought together policymakers, academicians,
artisans, students and cultural ambassadors, who collectively underscored the
importance of supporting handloom weavers and making sustainable, indigenous
textiles an integral part of everyday life.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Odisha Minister
of State (Independent Charge) for Co-operation and Handlooms, Textiles &
Handicrafts, Pradeep Bal Samanta, said National Handloom Day is observed to
promote India’s handloom sector, encourage the use of eco-friendly clothing and
inspire the younger generation to adopt handloom in their daily lives.
Describing weavers as the soul of the handloom sector, he said the State
Government remains committed to their welfare. Referring to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s “Vocal for Local” initiative, the Minister urged people to wear
handloom garments at least once every week to strengthen the country’s
traditional weaving community.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of
KIIT, KISS and KIMS, said India possesses a rich handloom tradition, with
Odisha occupying a special place in the country’s textile heritage. He said
Prime Minister Narendra Modi instituted National Handloom Day in 2015 to honour
millions of handloom weavers and bring greater recognition to their
contribution. Owing to sustained efforts, Indian handloom products have today
gained popularity across the world, he added.
Prof. Samanta highlighted that he has been promoting Odisha’s
handloom tradition across the globe for nearly three decades. As part of this
sustained effort, around 15,000 handloom sarees are distributed every year to
visitors to KIIT to support weavers, strengthen their livelihoods, popularise
Odisha’s traditional craftsmanship and create greater market opportunities for
artisans. He noted that KAANCHI 2026 is being organised by the KIIT Student
Activity Centre (KSAC), while the KIIT School of Fashion Technology is also
actively observing National Handloom Day through a series of initiatives to
celebrate and promote India’s rich weaving traditions.
Renowned actor Debjani Deghuria joined the programme as the
celebrity guest and encouraged one and all to use handloom in a big way.
KIIT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Saranjit Singh and Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Registrar, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the significance of preserving traditional weaving practices while encouraging greater adoption of handloom products in contemporary lifestyles.
Earlier in the day, KISS also organised a special event to mark the occasion, where handloom entrepreneurs shared their thoughts on promoting the welfare of weavers and taking Odisha’s celebrated handloom tradition to the world stage. The programme reflected the institutions’ continued commitment to safeguarding India’s textile heritage, empowering artisans and ensuring that the timeless legacy of handloom continues to thrive for generations to come.
