Meghalaya celebrated National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement and various dignitaries urged the people to wear handloom clothes to encourage rural weavers and the economy.
Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad said that wearing handloom (attire) is not a practice that should be celebrated for a day, but it should be worn all the year round to remain rooted to one’s culture, tradition and support the weavers.
National Handloom Day is observed every year on August 7 to honour handloom weavers of the country and remember the Swadeshi Movement of 1905.
Prasad said that the young generation of Meghalaya has started making fashionable handloom products and urged more youths to use their talent and creativity in the handloom sector.
He stressed the need to make handloom clothes more fashionable so that people at large are attracted towards the handloom products.
Minister of Sericulture and Weaving Banteidor Lyngdoh highlighted the importance of this sector for employment generation and assured the weavers of all assistance from the Government’s side.
He also stated that he would take up with the Union Ministry to start the weavers’ service centres in order to help the entrepreneurs.
Prominent weavers from the State were also felicitated with cash awards and certificates during the function.