MAM
Chanderi’s loom goes boom as MP kicks off three-month cultural fest
MUMBAI: Chanderi lit up in a riot of colour and craft on Thursday, as the three-month ‘Chanderi Eco Retreat and Fest’ spun into action, stitching together fashion, heritage, music and adventure at one of Madhya Pradesh’s most storied destinations. Organised by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board with the district administration and Sunset Desert Camp, the festival aims to position Chanderi as a premier cultural and textile hub with global appeal.
Inaugurated via video message by chief minister Mohan Yadav, the opening ceremony brought heavyweight presence to the tent city. union minister of communication and DoNER, Jyotiraditya Scindia, attended as chief guest, alongside Ashoknagar collector Aditya Singh, MP tourism deputy director Yuvraj Padole, Fabindia MD William Bissell, and Tata Taneira CEO Ambuj Narayan.
To mark the launch, Madhya Pradesh Tourism rolled out a high-energy fashion show headlined by Fabindia, the opening brand of the evening. Along with Taneira, Itokri, Noize Jeans and Zee’s by Tajwar, the showcase celebrated Chanderi’s legendary handloom tradition, turning centuries-old weaving mastery into a contemporary runway spectacle.
Speaking at the event, Jyotiraditya Scindia called Chanderi “a true marvel of our heritage,” noting its unique place in Sanskrit texts and India’s living craft culture. “It is essential that this profound cultural legacy reaches every corner of the globe,” he said, praising Fabindia’s role in amplifying Chanderi artistry worldwide.
The evening then transitioned into ‘Threads of Time: The Chanderi Saga’, an immersive fashion-and-music ceremony dedicated to the region’s weaving lineage. Fabindia unveiled a specially curated collection inspired by Chanderi’s textures, motifs and iconic weave, reinforcing its long-standing partnership with the artisan community.
“For over twenty-five years, our association has been built on respect, collaboration and a shared love for the loom,” said Fabindia Ltd managing director, William N. Bissell. He added that the younger generation’s growing involvement will carry Chanderi’s legacy “to new heights with every weave.”
Beyond fashion and culture, the tent city offers a burst of adventure for visitors, Hot Air Balloon Glow Shows, ATV rides, ziplines, air-gun shooting, and a line-up of DJ nights, live bands, and a light-and-sound show narrating Chanderi’s historic past.
The festival also promises a packed five-day opening celebration, featuring naturopathy sessions, weaving workshops, buyer–seller meets, heritage walks, yoga sessions, sound meditation, laser shows, and carefully curated experiences that immerse travellers in Chanderi’s craft-rich ecosystem.
Calling Chanderi “one of Madhya Pradesh’s proudest cultural treasures,” MP Tourism Board additional chief secretary (Tourism, Culture, Home, Religious Trusts & Endowments) and MD Sheo Shekhar Shukla, said the festival is an invitation to discover a world where “history, craftsmanship and living tradition come together in the most extraordinary way.”
With its creative confluence of loom, legacy and local experiences, the Chanderi Eco Retreat and Fest sets out to transform the town into a world-class cultural destination and for the next three months, all roads lead to Chanderi.
Brands
Trump announces $300bn Texas oil refinery with Reliance, calls it the biggest in US history
First new US refinery in 50 years planned at Brownsville port with Reliance
WASHINGTON: The United States may soon see the first brand-new oil refinery built on its soil in half a century.
Donald Trump announced a proposed $300 billion refinery project in Texas, calling it a landmark moment for American energy production and jobs.
Posting on Truth Social on 10 March, Trump said the facility would be built at the Port of Brownsville and developed by a company called America First Refining, with major investment from India’s Reliance Industries.
The announcement frames the project as a centrepiece of the administration’s push for “energy dominance”, with Trump claiming it would deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity to South Texas.
If realised, the plant would mark the first all-new major refinery constructed in the United States since the 1970s. In recent decades, oil companies have largely chosen to expand existing facilities rather than build new ones, citing high costs, regulatory hurdles and environmental scrutiny.
Trump described the proposed investment as the “biggest in US history”, positioning it as proof that policy changes such as streamlined permits and lower taxes are drawing large-scale energy investments back into the country.
The refinery is planned for the Port of Brownsville, a strategic Gulf Coast location that provides easy access to shipping routes and export markets.
A key partner in the project is Reliance Industries, controlled by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The company already runs the world’s largest refining complex in Jamnagar, India, making it one of the most experienced operators in large-scale petroleum processing.
The Texas venture would mark a significant step for the group into America’s domestic refining sector, potentially strengthening industrial ties between the US and India.
The proposed refinery is being promoted as a next-generation facility capable of processing American shale oil while maintaining high environmental standards. Trump said it would be “the cleanest refinery in the world”, although the specific technologies behind that claim have not yet been detailed.
Industry observers also note that the $300 billion figure is unusually large for a refinery project, and analysts are waiting for more clarity on whether the number reflects total construction costs, long-term infrastructure investment, or broader economic impact estimates.
As of 11 March, Reliance Industries had not publicly confirmed the investment size or the structure of its involvement.
For now, the announcement has sparked equal parts excitement and curiosity in energy markets. If the plan moves from promise to pouring concrete, the refinery could reshape the Gulf Coast energy landscape, and reopen a chapter in American refining that has been quiet for nearly fifty years.
