Sirsa asks residents to use swadeshi products this Diwali

Delhi witnessed a vibrant celebration of India’s handloom and khadi heritage as Khadi Utsav 2025 (Vastrakatha 2.0) was inaugurated on Sunday at the INA Dilli Haat. Minister for Industries Manjinder Singh Sirsa graced the occasion and called upon the residents to embrace a “Swadeshi wali Diwali”, urging them to choose Indian products with pride under PM Narendra Modi’s Vocal for Local and Swadeshi Apnao initiatives.

Organised by the Delhi Khadi and Village Industries Board (DKVIB), the event featured a khadi fashion show featuring students from Miranda House, Hindu College, Khalsa College, and the Apparel Training and Design Centre (ATDC). The fashion sequences highlighted khadi’s relevance to modern youth while celebrating India’s rich textile legacy.

Addressing the gathering, Sirsa said, “Khadi is the soul of our nation. Every metre of khadi strengthens the hands of our artisans and supports the environment. Unlike the global fashion industry, which is highly polluting, khadi is handspun, sustainable and planet-friendly.”

He emphasised the need to move away from imported goods, saying, “Choosing foreign products hurts our identity. Let this Diwali be a Swadeshi Diwali.”

Sirsa also highlighted Delhi’s renewed focus on khadi, stating, “For the first time in over four decades, khadi promotion is at the heart of Delhi’s industrial policy. Skill development programmes are being launched to empower artisans.”

Khadi fashion show

The event featured a khadi fashion show with six themed sequences, including ATDC’s Dharohar – The Heritage Weave, Miranda House’s East to West – Fusion of Tradition & Empowerment, Khalsa College’s Khadi Beyond Boundaries, Hindu College’s Fabric of India, and ATDC’s Jod and Black & White Saga. Running until October 15, the fortnight-long Khadi Utsav features over 100 stalls of handmade craft and food items.