India celebrates National Handloom Day today. The celebrations, which are duly held every year, aim to showcase the richness and relevance of the country's handloom heritage and also recognise the talent and craftsmanship of the Indian weavers.
In the Hindi film industry, one of the strongest advocates for handloom is Dia Mirza. In a report by The Times of India, the actor and environmentalist said that for her handwoven textiles are more than a fashion statement and they reflect identity, heritage and conscious living. “It started with seeing my mother’s saris. I learned to wear one when I was eight. I always took pride in the saris my mom inherited from her mother and grandmother,” she said.
That childhood admiration has only deepened over the years. Reflecting on India’s textile legacy, Dia said, “India has one of the most diverse and rich handloom legacies. Each state and region embodies handcrafted stories that have been woven through centuries. Handwoven saris are the greatest legacy of craftsmanship and culture.”
“We have so many types of weaves and textiles that are rich patterns that carry vibrant stories of our past. I have seen artisans weaving Banarasi saris and the sheer delight of watching the motifs emerge and the colours take form is awe-inspiring. To weave one sari sometimes can take up to six months,” she added.
On National Handloom Day, Dia Mirza also has a message for the younger generation: “Choose a handloom sari from the state of your birth. There is no greater ode to identity, craft, heritage and culture than this,” she added.
On the work front, Dia was last seen in the Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna starrer Netflix legal-thriller Ikka. Her upcoming release is Operation Safed Sagar in which she features alongside Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Abhay Verma, Mihir Ahuja, Amrita Bagchi, Manu Rishi Chadha and Vinay Pathak. It is currently streaming on Netflix.
