Guv urges citizens to wear handloom weekly

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Friday appealed to people to make handloom products part of their lifestyle and wear them at least once a week to support thousands of weaving families in the State. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 12th State-Level National Handloom Day celebration here, Kambhampati urged government officials, public representatives, teachers, professionals and young citizens to promote Odisha handloom products by choosing them in their daily lives. “Such a simple personal commitment can become a powerful movement for supporting thousands of our weaving families across the State,” he said.

Highlighting the cultural and economic importance of handloom, the Governor said every handwoven fabric represents the skill, perseverance, family tradition and creativity of artisans. “When we purchase a handloom product, we are not simply buying a piece of cloth. We are supporting a family, sustaining rural employment, empowering women, preserving traditional knowledge and strengthening our local economy,” he said.

Kambhampati said Odisha’s weaving tradition, rooted in the ancient maritime heritage of Kalinga, continues to remain an important part of the State’s cultural identity. The State’s renowned handloom products, including Sambalpuri Bandha, Odisha Ikat, Bomkai, Khandua, Kotpad, Habaspuri, Brahmapur Patta and Gopalpur Tussar, have earned global recognition for their distinctive designs and craftsmanship, he pointed out.

On this occasion, the State signed MoUs with Grasim India Ltd, Zuby’s Designer Studio for sustainable fashion, and Amazon Karigar to provide e-commerce benefits to 1.30 lakh weavers across the State, officials said. As part of the collaboration with Amazon, eligible weavers and artisans referred by the Directorate of Textiles will be onboarded under Amazon Karigar, Amazon India’s programme dedicated to empowering artisans and weavers by helping them sell online, the company said in a statement.