Second Phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT” Begins

January 3, 2023

The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT” will be held from January 3 to 17, 2023, at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of Textiles, the event will take place from 11 AM to 8 PM and aims to raise awareness about India’s traditional handmade saris.

Phase Two Features Enhanced Attractions

The second phase of VIRAASAT will feature 90 participants from across the country and include famous handcrafted varieties of saris, such as Tie and Dye, Chikan embroidered Saris, Hand Block Saris, Kalamkari printed Saris, Ajrakh, Kantha, and Phulkari. These will be in addition to the exclusive handloom saris of Jamdani, Ikat, Pochampally, Banaras Brocade, Tussar Silk (Champa), Baluchari, Bhagalpuri Sik, Tangail, Chanderi, Lalitpuri, Patola, and Paithani. Also available will be handloom saris such as Tanchoi, Jangla, Kota Doria, Cutwork, Maheshwari, Bhujodi, Santipuri, Bomkai, and others, including Garad Korial, Khandua, and Arni Silk Saris.

First Phase of VIRAASAT

The first phase of VIRAASAT took place from December 16 to 30, 2022, and was inaugurated by the Honorable Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with the Honorable Minister of State Darshana Jardosh and other women parliamentarians. During this phase, 70 participants took part in the event, which featured a wide publicity program through print media, posters, invitation cards, social media, cultural programs, and designers’ workshops. The event was a big hit and brought much-needed attention to the sector, resulting in increased sales of handloom goods for weavers.

Social Media Campaign

To support handloom weavers, a social media campaign has been launched under the hashtag #MySariMyPride. Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Independence, “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,” there will be an exhibition-cum-sale of handloom saris by 75 handloom weavers.

Activities for Visitors

The festival will feature a range of activities for visitors, including a curated display of handloom saris, direct retail of saris by weavers, live loom demonstrations, workshops and talks on saris and sustainability, and famous folk dances of Indian culture. The event aims to bring renewed focus to the age-old tradition of sari weaving and improve earnings for the handloom community.

Importance of the Handloom Sector

The handloom sector is an integral part of India’s rich cultural heritage and a key provider of employment, particularly for women. The VIRAASAT festival celebrates both the tradition and potential of the handloom sector. By raising awareness about handmade saris and the hardworking weavers who produce them, the event aims to improve the earnings of the handloom community and keep this important tradition alive.

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