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The National Handloom Day 2026 was celebrated by NABARD by organising an exhibition-cum-sale event during 5 to 7 August 2026 at its Head Office in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. The 3-day event was organized to promote and preserve India'srich handloom heritage, provide direct marketing opportunities to handloom artisans, strengthen rural livelihoods through enhanced market access, and facilitate business linkages between producers and buyers. The event received an encouraging response fromvisitors, financial institutions and recorded sales of over ₹ 67 lakh, reflecting growing consumer appreciation for authentic handloom products.
The exhibition showcased 15 unique weaving traditions from 14 states, including 9 GI products. Visitors had the opportunity to feeland purchase the rich diversity of Indian handloom products such as Paithani (Maharashtra), Pochampally Ikat (Telangana), Kota Doriya (Rajasthan), Sambalpuri (Odisha), Bhagalpur Silk (Bihar), Kantha Stitch (West Bengal), Kutch Shawls (Gujarat), Venkatagiri(Andhra Pradesh), Arani Silk (Tamil Nadu), Balaramapuram (Kerala), Mubarakpur Handloom (Uttar Pradesh), Ambala Handlooms (Haryana), Bagh (Madhya Pradesh), Bhagaiya Silk (Jharkhand) and Uttariya (Karnataka).The artisans were provided with participation certificates and best 3 stalls were presented with trophies.
While inaugurating the programme on 5th August 2026, Dr. Shaji Krishnan V., Chairman, NABARD, said, “This exhibition is an amalgamation of rural enterprise and culture. Such initiatives help to create awareness among urban consumers about the rich weaving traditions of rural India and strengthen the rural-urbanconnect. They provide vital market facilitation opportunities, including access to export markets, for rural enterprises. Handloom is also a sustainable development model that contributes to climate resilience and environmentally responsible livelihoods. Asthe custodian of rural development, NABARD remains committed to reviving age-old traditions and supporting rural enterprises”.
Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood, Deputy Managing Director, NABARD,congratulated all participating artisans and organizations and emphasized that such exhibitions recognize the talent, craftsmanship and hard work of rural communities. He reaffirmed NABARD’s continued commitment towards creating sustainable livelihood opportunitiesand strengthening market access for rural producers across the country.
As part of the celebrations, NABARD organized a Buyer-Seller Meet on 6 August 2026, providing a platform for direct interaction betweenartisans and urban buyers. The session facilitated exchange of market insights, customer preferences and business requirements, while also helping participants establish potential long-term commercial linkages through direct networking and contact sharing.
