Budgam Weavers Selected for Prestigious National Recognition; Awards to Be Presented on National Handloom Day
Srinagar, Aug 4: Two master artisans from Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district have been selected to receive the prestigious National Handloom Award 2025 for their exceptional craftsmanship in the iconic Chanddar Kani Shawl.
The awards will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu during the National Handloom Day celebrations in New Delhi on August 7, as per details available with news agency JKNS.
The awardees, Manzoor Ahmad Hajam and Fayaz Ahmad Wani, both residents of Kanihama in Magam area of Budgam, have been recognised in the weaving category for preserving and promoting the centuries-old Chanddar Kani Shawl tradition, renowned globally for its intricate craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
The Ministry of Textiles announced the recipients of the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and National Handloom Awards 2025 on Tuesday.
A total of 22 awardees from across the country have been selected, including three Sant Kabir Handloom Award recipients and 19 National Handloom Award winners, recognising excellence in weaving, innovation, design development, marketing initiatives, start-up ventures and producer companies associated with the handloom sector.
Instituted under the Handloom Marketing Assistance component of the National Handloom Development Programme, the National Handloom Awards are regarded as the country’s highest recognition for excellence in the handloom sector.
The awards honour artisans and stakeholders who demonstrate outstanding craftsmanship, creativity, quality and innovation while preserving India’s traditional weaving heritage.
Each National Handloom Award carries a Tamrapatra, a shawl and a certificate. The awards aim to encourage excellence in traditional weaving, product diversification, design innovation and the adoption of modern techniques without compromising the authenticity of age-old crafts.
The National Handloom Day function will be attended by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, senior government officials, master weavers, designers, exporters, artisans and representatives of the handloom industry from across the country.
The recognition is expected to provide a significant boost to Kashmir’s globally acclaimed Kani shawl tradition, further strengthening the identity of Jammu and Kashmir’s rich handloom heritage on the national stage. (JKNS)
