Marking a vibrant celebration of India’s rich handloom heritage, Hathkargha Mela – special UT level Handloom Expo kick-started today at the Kashmir Haat Exhibition Ground in Srinagar.
The event has been organized by the Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, and is sponsored by the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
This special expo brings together 60 skilled handloom weavers and artisans from across the UT of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, providing them with a dedicated platform to showcase and sell their unique, handcrafted products directly to the public.
The exhibition aims to promote and preserve traditional weaving techniques while also supporting the economic upliftment of weaver communities.
The expo offers an array of exquisite handloom products including Pashmina shawls, Kani and Sozni embroidered items, cotton and silk sarees, stoles, rugs, home furnishings, and many regionally distinct textile crafts from different parts of UT.
Hathkargha Mela serves not only as a marketplace but also as a cultural bridge, encouraging public appreciation and awareness of the artistic and economic importance of handloom in the Indian textile sector. It underscores the government’s commitment to sustaining traditional crafts and empowering artisan communities. As the event has been planned alongside the holy festival, it is expected that a huge footfall of visitors will visit the exhibition.
The exhibition will continue for a period of 14 days and will end on 18 June, 2025. In addition, the exhibition will showcase the work of Craft Development Institute and Indian Institute of Carpet Technology. The event will also showcase live demonstrations of the arts and crafts by the master craftsmen from School of Designs Srinagar.
Visitors are encouraged to take this opportunity to experience the richness of Indian handlooms under one roof and to buy the same at genuine and reasonable rates.