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Former beauty queen walks down ramp to popularise Khadi
by Girija Shankar Ojha

          Ranchi: Khadi, the traditional hand spun fabric which shot to fame across the country during freedom movement by Mahatma Gandhi, was promoted in a major way during an apparel festival "Paridhan Utsav 08-09"here. Organised by Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries, the Khadi dresses were the main attraction at the fashion show. Participation of former beauty queen Priyanka Shah, Miss India Tourism 2008, added the glamour quotient to the show. "Prior to this show, when I participated in the fashion week, I spoke to some people and we discussed if we can promote other fabrics why not Khadi. And today after doing this show I'm feeling very good that I was promoting the cause of the Khadi," said Priyanka Shah. Jharkhand's Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto was present at the fashion show. He said he wanted Khadi to gain popularity internationally. "I feel that when such interesting outfits can be made out of other fabrics why not Khadi. I want that such interesting designs should be made in Khadi and an international statement should be made out of Khadi fabrics," said Sudhir Mahto. After gaining freedom from the British rulers, the Khadi dresses became the favourite dress code of politicians over the years. But, of late, youth are also drawn to Khadi dresses. The fabrics, hand spun in villages, are making a come back with gaining acceptance amongst the fashion glitterati that find the light cloth with its variety of weaves and spuns a perfect style material. Khadi gained maximum popularity when promoted by Mahatma Gandhi against the British rule. It gained popularity as a symbol of simplicity and austerity. Khadi stood throughout the freedom movement as a rejection of the foreign lifestyle, becoming the unofficial uniform of participants in the country's freedom movement. Since then changes have been incorporated in Khadi and today it has evolved as a fashion statement in social circles. Khadi, a versatile Indian fabric, is natural and handspun and hand woven from excellent fibres of cotton, silk and wool or a combination of at least two fibers.
-Jan 9, 2009

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