The ten-day Khadi Mahotsav 2025 commenced in Lucknow on Friday with a vibrant inauguration led by Rakesh Sachan, Uttar Pradesh’s Minister for MSME, Khadi and Village Industries, Sericulture, Handloom and Textiles.
The launch ceremony took place at the Central Sanskrit University campus in Gomti Nagar, where the Minister inaugurated the festival by cutting the ribbon, lighting the ceremonial lamp, and paying floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
More than 160 entrepreneurs and production units from different districts of Uttar Pradesh have set up stalls displaying a wide range of khadi and village-industry products.
Khadi, once the symbol of India’s freedom struggle and national unity, has today become a pillar of self-reliance, employment generation, and rural development.
Minister Sachan highlighted that khadi embodies Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of self-sufficiency and continues to gain prominence under the leadership of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister.
He added that the state is now organising khadi exhibitions across all 18 divisions to give rural products a wider market.
Last year’s 20 exhibitions recorded participation from more than 2,000 units and sales of ₹44.38 crore—an important milestone in strengthening the rural economy.
Minister Sachan further shared that the Khadi and Village Industries Board currently provides employment to over 3.9 lakh people, marking a 21% increase from the previous year.
In 2025 alone, 66,640 youth received toolkits to support self-employment.
Equipment such as dona-making machines, popcorn makers, honey boxes, and electric potter’s wheels has played a transformative role in empowering women and rural youth.
Officials felicitated outstanding entrepreneurs with state-level awards and provided selected beneficiaries with various toolkits to support their livelihoods.
Principal Secretary Anil Kumar Sagar emphasised that khadi is now gaining popularity among the youth due to modern designs, technological innovation, and collaborations with institutions like NIFT.
E-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart are helping khadi products reach national and global markets, leading to higher income and recognition for artisans.
Ensuring high quality and reliability remains a top priority for the department.
Residents of Lucknow are urged to visit the Mahotsav in large numbers and support rural artisans by purchasing khadi products.
Media personnel are encouraged to widely promote the event and help revive indigenous industries.
During the ceremony, Minister Sachan honoured award recipients, including first-prize winner Deepak Kumar from Meerut, Mamta from Gonda with the second prize, and Sanjay Singh from Hathras with the third prize.
Officials distributed toolkits—including dona-making machines, popcorn machines, honey boxes, and electric wheels—to selected beneficiaries, strengthening their journey towards self-reliance.
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