Giriraj Singh Inaugurates NHDC Handloom Expo In Delhi
Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated the Special Handloom Expo and the 43rd Foundation Day celebrations of the National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC) at Handloom Haat on February 23, 2026.
The event was attended by Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary (Textiles), Dr. M. Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and other senior officials. The Foundation Day programme was organised alongside the Special B2C Handloom Expo 2026, which began on February 21 and will continue until March 2, providing weavers from 21 states a direct-to-consumer platform to market their products.
Organised by NHDC, the celebration marked 43 years of the corporation’s contribution to strengthening India’s handloom sector through raw material support, marketing assistance and capacity-building initiatives aimed at sustainable livelihood generation.
On the occasion, the Minister released a multilingual comic book highlighting India’s handloom legacy. The publication is designed to create awareness among younger audiences by presenting the history, processes and cultural significance of traditional weaving in an engaging format.
Distinguished weavers and artisans from across the country were felicitated for their craftsmanship and contributions to preserving India’s weaving traditions. The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and a Foundation Day cake-cutting ceremony.
An annual report presentation outlined NHDC’s key achievements over the past year, particularly in areas of economic empowerment and digital inclusion for the weaving community.
The celebration also featured a poetry recitation and a Paridhan Pradarshini, showcasing handloom garments that reflected the diversity and aesthetic richness of regional textile traditions.
Addressing the gathering, Giriraj Singh reiterated the Government’s focus on strengthening domestic manufacturing, expanding market access for artisans and encouraging citizens to promote and support Swadeshi textiles. He also visited the exhibition stalls and interacted with participating weavers, appreciating the quality and innovation of the handwoven products on display.
