Making of Gabba’ (Kashmiri rug embroidered with aari work) has been carried out since the late 16th century Mughal period. Gabbas are made up of wool blankets. The old blankets are dyed in vegetable colors and with a cotton backing. These can also be made new by mixing wool (one or two ply) and a...
An English Literature student from Srinagar’s Sher-e-Khas, Nazar Nasir Naik has been breaking stereotypes with his crocheting. Nazar, known as “Male Crocheter of Kashmir”, took a liking to the craft art during an unrest in 2016 when his aunt was knitting a sweater. He infused a new life in the orthodox style of knotting with...
Walnut wood carving is an ornamental and delicate craft process that is unique to Kashmir due to the concentration of walnut trees in this region. The raw material used for the fine woodcarving of Kashmir is obtained from walnut tree locally known as Doon Kul (Juglans regia tree) and is cut only once it matures...
Ghulam Mohammed Beigh, a 70-year-old sozni artisan from Zadibal, Srinagar has been embroidering Pashmina shawls from the last 40 years and continues to do so with his children to keep the glorious craft alive. Beigh grew up in a family of artisans, where his father, grandfather and uncles all were associated with Pashmina embroidery. Every...
80 year old Mir Abdul Majeed, of Kalai Andar area of the old city of Srinagar, is an award winning aari embroidery artist from Kashmir. Aari staple or hook-work is a common form of embroidery, taken to another level by master artisan Mir Abdul Majid with his landscape embroidered pieces. One of his landscape works...
Copper vessels have been used traditionally in Kashmiri households for cooking and serving meals. Copperware known as Traam has been an indispensable commodity in Kashmir since ages. The household utensils include lota (pot), Tream (plate), naer (water jug), tash- naer (for washing hands), samovar for preparing tea, dishes, bowls,trays ,vessels, Lamp Shades and many more....
Maqbool Jan, an artist from Srinagar’s Lal Bazar area, has dedicated his life to perfecting the art of papier-mache. Over the years, he has won several State, National, and International Awards, including the prestigious UNESCO Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts in 2007-2008. From Mughal Mohalla in Lal Bazar, Srinagar, he was forced to learn the...
Nadru, or lotus stem, is a quintessential part of Kashmiri cuisine. The seeds are sown just once, and harvest is enjoyed for years. The harvesting season is between September and March when farmers spend all day on their boats, eating, praying and gathering the nadru from Dal Lake, and Anchar Lake in Srinagar, and Manasbal...
Locally made electric blankets are proving to be the best alternatives for traditional kangri and these blankets are in good demand in Kashmir, say manufacturers. These blankets are capable of heating an entire room within a few minutes while using minimal energy. These blankets not only provide an alternative to traditional kangri but also to...
Once considered a quintessential cultural element, Khanyari (Rainawari)Tiles were used in every traditional house of Kashmir to decorate the floors. In the past, the glazed tiles were made by a large community of artisans from Khanyar, Srinagar. At its peak, people in that Mohalla would make 50000 tiles a day, reduced to barely a 100....
