India celebrates 12th National Handloom Day, honouring Swadeshi heritage

India has a special day called National Handloom Day, celebrated every year on August 7.

In 2026 it is the 12th time this day is being celebrated, with fairs and exhibitions across the country.

Handloom means cloth woven by hand on a loom, not by big machines.

Long ago, on August 7, 1905, Indians made a promise at Calcutta Town Hall to stop buying foreign goods and use things made in India.

That movement was called the Swadeshi Movement.

Handloom cloth became a symbol of resistance to British rule back then.

Today, about 95 out of every 100 handwoven fabrics in the world come from India.

More than 31 lakh households make a living by weaving.

The government is helping weavers with new schemes and special tags called GI tags that protect their famous designs.