NIFT Bhopal’s Grand Handloom Pakhwada Celebration: Honoring India’s Textile Heritage
NIFT Bhopal celebrated Handloom Pakhwada with a vibrant event honoring India’s rich textile heritage. The event highlighted the Craft Research & Documentation (CRD) program, which is part of NIFT’s Craft Cluster Initiative. This initiative connects students with various handloom clusters across India, allowing them to engage directly with artisans and understand the traditional techniques and challenges they face. These clusters include Chanderi, Banaras, and Khajuraho, each known for its unique weaving styles and cultural significance.
Faculty members, including Mr. Ayan Tiwari (CC FC), Dr. Hema Dubey (AD – Fashion and Lifestyle Accessory), Ms. Nayantara Singh (Student Development Activity Coordinator-SDAC), and Dr. Anupam Saxena (CIC), shared their experiences working with these clusters, emphasizing the program’s impact on both students and artisans. Students also shared their experiences, with Japjyot Kaur (FD – Fashion Design) discussing her journey, while others such as Manushri and Mahak (FD – Chanderi), Charvi Vyas and Khushi (FC – Fashion Communication, Banaras), Anushka Indurkar and Parul Dwivedi (TD – Textile Design, Banaras), and Astha Shah and Rishita Baldota (AD – Khajuraho) contributed their insights.
The day included a screening of the documentary “Khadi Smart Textiles,” highlighting the significance of Khadi in Indian life and its potential to create rural employment. The event concluded with a “Har Ghar Tiranga” campus walk under the leadership of the Director and Joint Director, organized by the Student Development Activity Council. This event also served as the closing ceremony of Hathkargha Pakhwada, reinforcing NIFT Bhopal’s commitment to preserving traditional crafts while fostering innovation in the textile industry.
