Bhubaneswar: Two weavers from Odisha were honoured by President Droupadi Murmu during the 12th National Handloom Day celebrations in New Delhi on Friday in recognition of their outstanding achievement in weaving and innovation.
Ram Meher from Baragada received the prestigious Sant Kabir Handloom Award 2025, the country’s highest honour for handloom weavers.
Similarly, Prafulla Kumar Sahoo from Jagatsinghpur was honoured with the National Handloom Award 2025.
Odisha Chief Minister congratulated the two weavers for their outstanding achievement and said it was a matter of pride for the entire state.
“Your exceptional craftsmanship, dedication, and creativity have bestowed a unique recognition upon Odisha’s rich handicrafts tradition on the national stage. This commendable achievement of yours is a matter of immense pride and honour for the entire state. Your contribution towards enriching the state’s cultural heritage will always remain memorable,” Chief Minister’s Office said in a post on X.
The two have been selected through a rigorous multi-level evaluation process involving expert committees to ensure transparency, objectivity and recognition of excellence across all segments of the handloom sector.
Notably, the Ministry of Textiles celebrated the 12th National Handloom Day on Friday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC) in New Delhi, reaffirming the government’s commitment to preserving, promoting and strengthening India’s rich handloom heritage while recognising the invaluable contribution of the country’s handloom weaving community to the nation’s cultural and economic development.
President Murmu graced the celebrations as the chief guest and presented the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025.
A major highlight of the celebrations was the conferment of 22 prestigious awards, comprising 3 Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards, recognising outstanding achievements in weaving, innovation, design development, marketing initiatives, start-up ventures and producer companies associated with the handloom sector.
Instituted under the Handloom Marketing Assistance (HMA) component of the National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), these awards represent the highest national recognition for excellence in India’s handloom ecosystem.
The Sant Kabir Handloom Award, the country’s highest honour for handloom weavers, recognises extraordinary craftsmanship, lifelong dedication and sustained contribution towards preserving and promoting India’s weaving traditions.
The National Handloom Award honours handloom weavers and other stakeholders who have demonstrated outstanding creativity, quality, innovation and excellence while preserving traditional skills and embracing modern techniques.
