From Mumbai’s vibrant ode to India’s weaving legacy on National Handloom Day to Bengaluru’s Oscar-accredited short film showcase, two events celebrate creativity, tradition, and the power of storytelling to inspire change. The Daily Eye #Newsdesk reports on these two stellar events.

On 7th August 2025, the Women Entrepreneurs Committee of MACCIA marked National Handloom Day with Heritage Hands – A Tapestry of Weaves at Oricon House, Mumbai. Led by President Lalit Gandhi, Dr. Dhanashri Hardas, and the WEC team, the event was a colourful celebration of India’s weaving traditions and their relevance in the contemporary world. Highlights included a panel featuring KVIC CEO Rooprashi Mohapatra, Kala Ghoda Festival Chairperson Brinda Miller, and other cultural leaders; a handloom exhibition; and a fashion show curated by Malika Gaidhani. Meanwhile, looking ahead, from 16th–17th August 2025, the Oscar Academy-accredited Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF) will partner with Curiouscity Discovery Centre to present two days of thought-provoking documentaries, animations, and globally acclaimed short films. Alongside screenings, audiences will enjoy discussions and Q&A sessions exploring the art of filmmaking.

Threads of Tradition in Mumbai

India’s cultural calendar this August is stitched together with the threads of tradition and the lens of contemporary storytelling. On 7th August 2025, the Women Entrepreneurs Committee (WEC) of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MACCIA) transformed Oricon House, Mumbai, into a living, breathing tapestry of India’s handloom heritage.

The event, aptly titled Heritage Hands – A Tapestry of Weaves, brought together master weavers, designers, entrepreneurs, and cultural icons to mark National Handloom Day with an elegance that was both nostalgic and forward-looking. Presided over by MACCIA President Lalit Gandhi and WEC Chairperson Dr. Dhanashri Hardas, the celebration was inaugurated by Senior Vice President Ravindra Mangave, who made a stirring proposal — to push for 7th August to be recognised as International Handloom Day. Vice President Sangeeta Patil underscored the chamber’s commitment to supporting the handloom sector, while co-chairpersons Shweta Inamdar and Shilpa Jain, along with the WEC team, welcomed dignitaries and guests.

The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Hardas, was a meeting of minds. KVIC CEO Rooprashi Mohapatra, artist and Kala Ghoda Festival Chairperson Brinda Miller, Pravaaha Communications Director Savitha S. J., former Doordarshan DG Vijayalaxmi Chhabra, Paithani designer Raju Gondhlekar, fashion stylist Mrunmayi Avachat, La Arternitsia founder Sanjukta Barik, and academic-entrepreneur Prof. Amisha Dawda offered insights on sustaining weaving traditions in a rapidly modernising market. In keeping with the spirit of the day, attendees embraced a handloom and handcrafted dress code, turning the venue into a vibrant visual ode to sustainable fashion.

An intimate exhibition provided women entrepreneurs from WEC a direct marketplace to display and sell their creations, while the fashion show curated by member Malika Gaidhani was a visual feast — India’s diverse weaves reimagined in modern silhouettes, modelled by MACCIA’s own members. It was a reminder that heritage is most alive when it is worn, celebrated, and reinterpreted for new generations.  

Frames of Imagination in Bengaluru

As Mumbai applauded the artistry of threads, Bengaluru is readying itself for a celebration of cinematic storytelling. On 16th and 17th August 2025, the Curiouscity Discovery Centre will host a special weekend showcase of the 15th edition of the Oscar Academy-accredited Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF).

Known for curating stories that traverse continents and cultures, BISFF will bring to Curiouscity’s auditorium an eclectic mix of thought-provoking documentaries, imaginative animations, and award-winning short films alongside works from emerging filmmakers. The screenings will be enriched by discussions and Q&A sessions that invite audiences to peek behind the scenes — exploring not just how these films are made, but the inspirations and ideas that drive their creation.

“Curiouscity is a space that thrives on curiosity, dialogue, and discovery,” said Shonali C. Chinniah, Director and Founder of Curiouscity Discovery Centre. “Hosting BISFF aligns perfectly with our mission. The festival is not just about showcasing films, but about telling stories that challenge norms, inspire change, and connect people across cultures.”

The two-day segment is part of a larger 10-day festival that runs from 7th to 17th August 2025 across multiple venues in Bengaluru. At Curiouscity, the focus will be on bringing global perspectives to local audiences, and inspiring the next generation of storytellers. 

A Cultural Double Bill

Both events — one rooted in the warp and weft of Indian looms, the other in the frames of global cinema — share a common heartbeat: the preservation of heritage through reinvention. One invites you to wear your culture proudly, the other to see the world through new eyes. Together, they remind us that stories, whether woven in silk or projected in light, have the power to connect, to challenge, and to change us.

In a month where the loom and the lens take centre stage, the message is clear: culture is not just something we inherit — it’s something we must keep weaving, frame by frame.