Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Handloom Award to Takhellambam Rani Devi on August 7. The ceremony marked the 12th National Handloom Day. Devi hails from Kakching Khunou Awang Keithel Leikai in the Kakching district of Manipur.
Judges selected her for the women weavers category. She earned the nod for her work on Shaphee Lanphee in Silk Innaphi, a modern take on a classic Manipuri textile. This black-and-red fabric holds deep historical weight. Manipuri kings once gave it to warriors and tribal chiefs to mark bravery. The cloth features sun, moon, elephant, and spear motifs. Devi keeps the cultural heart of the craft alive in her silk designs.
She was one of 22 master weavers, artisans, designers, and organizational leads honored for keeping India's handloom heritage alive. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla praised the achievement. "The award was a matter of pride for the state," Bhalla said. He pointed to her work as proof of the resilience found within the local weaving community.
Manipur relies heavily on this trade. Women make up 95 per cent of the workforce in the state sector. Approximately 2.44 lakh weavers and artisans currently work to sustain these traditional practices across the region.
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