The sari has long been regarded as iconic by women of Indian descent worldwide, and National Handloom Day is the ideal time to promote it to a broad international audience. On August 6, history will be made as more than 500 women of Indian descent dress in the six yards of elegance and exhibit a variety of draping styles to draw attention to the plight of artisans and weavers back home who are in desperate need of support to keep their art form relevant in contemporary society.
A similar event was first organised last year at the Ladies Day Royal Ascot Races where over 1000 women from the subcontinent flaunted their regional drapes along with fascinators as a marker of cultural ties between the United Kingdom and India. It was the brainchild of Dr. Dipti Jain, chairperson of a group called British Women in Sarees. This year, the goal is to remember the fundamental tenet of the Swadeshi Movement, which played a crucial role in India’s war for independence.
“As this year we plan to flaunt our pallus at famous London locations like Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square, to mention a few, my ideas are getting bigger and crazier. It didn’t take long to assemble a sizeable group of more than 500 ladies who are eager to showcase the variety of the sari as well as their unique, regional draping styles. We are excited to walk on the streets of London with our heads held high with pride during the walkathon, which also marks the 75th anniversary of Indian independence, says Dipti. The Swadeshi movement, which had its beginnings on August 7th, 1905, in the Town Hall of Kolkata, is currently celebrated on August 7th as National Handloom Day.
Our mission is also to preserve our national heritage, and we are proud to be a part of this amazing initiative organised by Dr. Dipti Jain of British Women in Sarees, says Rashmi Mishra, spokesperson of Inspiring Indian Women, a group that unites thousands of women from the subcontinent and will support the walkathon. We want to collect money for the incredibly skilled yet underappreciated craftspeople back home. There are ongoing rehearsals for a variety of Indian dances from different states and a showcase of handwoven textiles from the region.
The event will bring together women from practically all 28 of India’s states and eight union territories because of the country’s regional, cultural, and linguistic variety. Each person will display the clothing and culture unique to their region. “Bengal has a rich repertoire of weaves, including Dhakai Jamdani, Phulia or Shantipuri Tant, Baluchari, Swarnachuri, Bishnupuri, and more,” explains Dr. Tina Dutta Gupta, the coordinator for West Bengal. As a representative of Bengal, the birthplace of the Swadeshi Movement, I feel honoured.
As a representative of my native state of Rajasthan, I’m quite eager to take part in the Handloom Sari Walkathon. As much as it is recognised for its cuisine and palaces, Rajasthan is as known for its textiles and handicrafts. It is the birthplace of weaves like Bandhni, Dabu, Kota Doria, and others. Rakhi Singh, the coordinator for the state of Rajasthan, says, “I believe that this walkathon is a wake-up call for everyone to remember the artists who make us feel proud of our draperies.
