Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented the Poompuhar State Awards 2025-26 to ten artisans in Chennai for excellence in Tamil Nadu's traditional crafts. Every recipient gets Rs 50,000 in cash, a 4-gram gold medal, a Thamirapattiram and a certificate. This year's awardees are K. Venkatesh, C. Sangeetha, A. Babu, K. Reeta, M. Shabana, S. Murugan, A. Raj, A. Gavvabeevi, T. Celine Mary and M. Kumar. The awards, named after the State handicrafts brand Poompuhar, aim to encourage skilled craftspersons and keep traditional art forms alive.