Himachal agri varsity honours handloom heritage
The Department of Textiles and Apparel Designing, College of Community Science, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), marked the celebration of the 11th National Handloom Day with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of cultural pride. Dr Chander Kanta Vats, Dean of the College, graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Naveen Kumar, in a special message, congratulated the department for organising the event and emphasised the crucial role that handlooms play in India’s cultural identity and economic resilience. He highlighted the significance of preserving traditional crafts in the age of sustainability and recognised the handloom sector as a symbol of self-reliance.
Dr Sapna Gautam, Head of the Department, welcomed the gathering and reflected on the importance of National Handloom Day. She emphasised the vital contribution of women weavers in preserving and promoting the nation’s textile heritage. Dr Gautam also shed light on the theme for 2025 — “Handlooms – Empowering Women, Empowering the Nation” — underscoring the transformative role of handlooms in women’s empowerment.
In her address, Dr Vats applauded the department’s commitment to reviving handloom culture and urged students to take pride in India’s rich textile traditions by supporting local artisans and choosing handloom products in daily life. She congratulated Dr Sapna Gautam, Dr Anjali Sood, the faculty members and students for their creativity and dedication in organising the event.
The celebration featured a vibrant showcase of traditional handloom garments worn by students, representing the diverse textile traditions of different Indian states. Adding academic depth to the event, Sunakshi, a third-year BSc (Hons.) Community Science student, delivered a powerful speech emphasising the role of handloom purchases in preserving cultural heritage and uplifting rural communities. Another student, Palak, presented a detailed PowerPoint highlighting the textile traditions of various states, the environmental benefits of handlooms, and the importance of mindful consumerism among the youth.
To add colour and engagement to the event, several competitions were organised, including a dress-up contest, poster making and slogan writing. In the dress-up competition showcasing ethnic and traditional attire, the winners included Pranjal Patial and Rhythm Sharma from BTech Food Technology and Kumkum from BSc (Hons) Community Science. The poster-making competition on the theme “Textile Heritage of Himachal” was won by Saloni Dutt (BTech Food Technology) and Palak (BSc Hons Community Science). In the slogan writing competition on the theme “Handloom for Sustainable Living,” the winners were Pranjal Patial and Heena, both from BTech Food Technology.
The celebration concluded with the distribution of prizes to the winners and witnessed active participation from Heads of Departments, faculty members, research staff and students. The event served as a meaningful reminder of the importance of handlooms in preserving India’s cultural legacy while promoting sustainable and inclusive development.
Himachal Tribune