CM Dhami Sings Chamoli Folk Song at Handloom Day Event
Synopsis
On National Handloom Day, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami joined women from Chamoli district in singing a traditional Garhwali folk song at Mukhyasevak Sadan in Dehradun, noting the same tune was once performed during PM Modi's visit to the region.
Key Takeaways
National Handloom Day is observed annually on 7 August , instituted in 2015 by the Ministry of Textiles.
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami sang a Garhwali folk song alongside matrishakti (women's groups) from Chamoli district at the event.
The celebration was held at Mukhyasevak Sadan , the official residence of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister in Dehradun .
Dhami noted the same folk tune had been performed by Chamoli locals during a visit by PM Narendra Modi to Uttarakhand.
Chamoli district is known for its Garhwali folk traditions and women's self-help groups active in handloom weaving.
A folk melody from the hills of Chamoli filled the Mukhyasevak Sadan in Dehradun on 7 August 2026, as Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami joined local women from the district in singing a traditional Garhwali folk song during the National Handloom Day celebrations.
Dhami noted that the same folk tune had been performed by Chamoli residents during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Uttarakhand — a detail that gave the moment an added layer of cultural resonance at what is otherwise a policy-linked observance.
National Handloom Day and Its Roots in Uttarakhand's Craft Identity
National Handloom Day, observed every year on 7 August, was instituted in 2015 by the Ministry of Textiles to honour India's weaving communities and promote indigenous textile traditions. Uttarakhand's handloom sector, rooted in Garhwali and Kumaoni craft lineages, has long been part of that national conversation.
State-level ceremonies in Uttarakhand have frequently woven regional folk performances into national observance days — a pattern that frames local identity within the broader canvas of central government schemes. The presence of matrishakti (women's groups) from Chamoli at the Chief Minister's official residence underscored the role women's collectives play in keeping these traditions alive.
A Folk Tune That Carries Its Own History
The folk song's prior performance during a Prime Minister's visit to the region lent it a quiet symbolic weight at Friday's event. By singing alongside Chamoli's women rather than merely presiding over the function, Dhami cast the occasion as participatory rather than ceremonial — the difference between a government event and a cultural moment.
Chamoli district, nestled deep in the Garhwal Himalayas, is known for its living folk traditions and active women's self-help groups, many of whom are engaged in handloom weaving as a livelihood. Their presence at the Chief Minister's residence brought the grassroots directly into the official frame.
On a day set aside to champion the loom, it was a local melody — not a policy announcement — that carried the room.
Point of View
These ceremonial gestures carry electoral texture well beyond the occasion itself. The focus on women's groups also aligns with the party's sustained messaging around women-led development in hill states.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Handloom Day and when is it celebrated?
National Handloom Day is observed on 7 August every year. It was instituted in 2015 by India's Ministry of Textiles to honour handloom weavers and promote indigenous textile traditions across the country.
What did CM Dhami do at the National Handloom Day event in Dehradun?
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami sang a traditional Garhwali folk song from Chamoli district alongside local women at Mukhyasevak Sadan in Dehradun during the National Handloom Day celebrations on 7 August 2026 .
Where is Mukhyasevak Sadan located?
Mukhyasevak Sadan is the official residence of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, located in Dehradun , the state capital.
What is the connection between the Chamoli folk song and PM Modi?
CM Dhami noted that the same folk song performed at the Handloom Day event had previously been sung by local residents of Chamoli during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Uttarakhand.
What is Chamoli district known for in Uttarakhand?
Chamoli is a district in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, known for its living Garhwali folk traditions and active women's self-help groups, many of whom are engaged in handloom weaving.
