“VIRAASAT” Sari Festival- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India

“VIRAASAT” Sari Festival UPSC Relevance

“VIRAASAT” Festival: Ministry of Textiles is organizing the VIRAASAT festival to celebrate 75 handwoven Saris of India.

“VIRAASAT” Sari Festival is also important for UPSC Prelims 2023 and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 1- Various Cultural and Traditional fairs and festival in India).

“VIRAASAT” Sari Festival in News

• The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India will begin from 3rd to 17th January 2023 at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi.

“VIRAASAT” Sari Festival

• About: “VIRAASAT” is a Sari Festival in India that that promotes traditional saris and provides a platform where traditional weavers can exhibit and sale handcrafted varieties of Saris.
• Organizing Ministry: “VIRAASAT” Sari Festival is being organized by the Ministry of Textile.
• Participation: The second phase of Viraasat Festival will have 90 participants from different parts of the country.
• Significance: The VIRAASAT 2023 event is likely to bring renewed focus on the age-old tradition of Sari weaving and thereby improve earnings of the handloom community.
  • Handloom sector is a symbol of our country’s rich and varied cultural heritage, besides being one of the key sectors providing employment to a large number of people, especially women.
  • The “VIRAASAT” Sari Festival event celebrates both the tradition as well as potential of the Handloom Sector in its full strength.

Exhibition of Traditional Handlooms at Viraasat Festival

• Handloom saris drawn from some of the exotic locations of India are on display and sale at the “VIRAASAT”  exhibition.
• “VIRAASAT” Sari Festival exhibition brings the participation of famous Handcrafted varieties of Saris like 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, Paithani etc.
• Also available will be Handloom Saris like Tanchoi, Jangla, Kota Doria, Cutwork, Maheshwari, Bhujodi, Santipuri, Bomkai and several other varieties like Garad Korial,  Khandua and Arni Silk Saris.

“VIRAASAT” Sari Festival Phase 2 Planned Activities

• A social media campaign has been launched under a common hashtag #MySariMyPride to support our handloom weavers. ­­­­­
• Coinciding with the 75 years of Independence, “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” there will be an exhibition-cum-sale of Handloom Saris by 75 handloom weavers.
• Important Activities: A series of activities are planned to for the visiting public such as:
  • Viraasat-Celebrating the heritage: Curated display of handloom saris.
  • Viraasat-Ek Dharohar: Direct retail of saris by weavers
  • Viraasat Ke Dhage: Live loom demonstration
  • Viraasat–kal se kal tak : Workshops and talks on sari and sustainability
  • Viraasat–Nritya Sanskriti: Famous Folk dances of Indian culture

1^st phase of VIRAASAT Festival

• The first phase of “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India started on 16th December 2022 and concluded on 30th December 2022.
• The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on 16^thDecember 2022, along with Hon’ble Minister of State Smt. Darshana Jardosh and other women parliamentarians.
• In the 1^stPhase from 16th to 30th December 2022, 70 Participants took part in “VIRAASAT” event.
• A wide publicity program was taken up to advertise this event through Print Media by Newspapers, Posters, invitation cards Social Media, Cultural Program and Designers Workshop etc.
• The event has been a big hit, and along with impressive footfalls across age-groups, brought much needed attention to the sector and sales of handloom goods for the weavers.

 

VIRAASAT Festival FAQs

 

1. What is VIRAASAT Festival?

Ans. “VIRAASAT” is a Sari Festival in India that that promotes traditional saris and provides a platform where traditional weavers can exhibit and sale handcrafted varieties of Saris.

 

2. Who is organizing the VIRAASAT Festival?

Ans. “VIRAASAT” Sari Festival is being organized by the Ministry of Textile.

 

3. Where is the Second Phase of Sari Festival “VIRAASAT” being Organized.

     Ans. Second Phase of Sari Festival “VIRAASAT” is being organized as Handloom Haat,   Janpath, New Delhi.

41st Edition of Hunar Haat | Hunar Haat Scheme