Patna: The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)-Patna on Thursday organised a day-long ‘ Khadi Mahotsav ’ to promote ‘khadi’ among the youths and motivate them to work for securing economic independence of the country. The theme of the event revolved around Atmanirbhar Bharat , Swadeshi and vocal for local. The event concluded with a captivating ‘ Khadi Fashion Walk’ wherein students from NIFT-Patna showcased their innovative designs made from khadi fabric.
The celebration featured a panel discussion on the importance of khadi which was moderated by Prof Jayant Kumar. Sharing historical insights in the discussion, convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Patna chapter, Bhairav Lal Das, traced khadi’s roots back to ancient times, including references to handmade cloth found at Mohenjodaro. He also narrated the touching story of Kasturba Gandhi’s encounter with an elderly woman who was unable to attend a meeting to be addressed by Mahatma Gandhi simply due to a lack of clothing.
Additional director of Bihar Museum, Ashok Sinha, said that khadi was mentioned by historical figures like Huen Tsang and Marco Polo, emphasising its deep connection to Bihar's heritage. Khadi and Village Industries Commission’s director Md Hanif Mevati spoke about the economic, environmental, and employment benefits of Khadi and appealed to the students to engage with Khadi, both locally and globally. We also published the following arti.
