Narendra Modi Promotes Handloom Heritage and Vaghu Mat Revival

During the 136th episode of his monthly radio program, Mann Ki Baat, on July 26, 2026, Narendra Modi urged Indian citizens to embrace the Vocal for Local initiative. He called for the promotion of India's handloom heritage and Khadi fabrics, noting that Khadi sales have increased six-fold over 12 years to nearly Rs 8,000 crore. With National Handloom Day approaching on August 7, the Prime Minister encouraged the public to purchase at least one handloom, Khadi, or handicraft product during the upcoming festive season.

Modi specifically highlighted the revival of the Vaghu mat from Kashmir. These eco-friendly mats, hand-woven from reeds and paddy straw harvested from marshlands, are designed to provide coolness in summer and warmth in winter. He commended Srinagar-based artisans Ghulam Hussain and his daughter, Tanzila Hussain, for their dedication to preserving the centuries-old craft, which had seen a decline in usage in recent years. The Prime Minister noted that the revival effort received support from the local government.

In addition to the Vaghu mats, Modi praised musician Suraj Kumar Debbarma for reviving interest in the Chongpreng, a traditional bamboo instrument from Tripura. He urged citizens to share information about traditional musical instruments from their own regions on social media to further preserve India's cultural identity.