Basket-weaving is one of the world’s oldest crafts, and is also widely practiced in the Valley. Willow wood is most commonly used and the kangri is one of the traditional items crafted from the wicker. The soil and climatic conditions of the Ganderbal District are the best for the cultivation and production of willow wicker crop. A normal willow plant grows up 2–3 metres in its height and the crop is harvested in the month of October. Once the crop is harvested, the withy, that is the willow stem, is grouped into bundles according to size. The crop is usually sold to a contractor who in turn assigns it to various artisans with the description of products that artisan has to make out of it.

The artisan’s first work is to soften the withy, which is done by boiling it in large water boilers. The bundles are stacked into a boiler and are weighed down by huge boulders overnight. The boiling is followed by peeling off the bark (used for fuel). The removal of the bark is a delicate process and is completed by using a special arrangement of sticks locally known as zealan. The withy is then sun dried for several days till no moisture is left and then again tied in bundles. The withy is now ready for craft artisans. Shaksaz is the local term for the basket-maker. The willow wicker work is known as keani keam or shaakhsaazi. The artisans weave a wide-range of products which include, kitchenware, planters, baskets, home décor, lamps, wall plates, dustbins and other home utility products.

Kachan, Umerhaer, Shalabugh, a few remote villages, in  Ganderbal district have pioneered the craft of weaving the famous willow baskets. Shalabugh earned the status of ‘Model Village’ (Kashmir’s Willow Village) in 2002 and is the largest producer of willow baskets in the valley. Nearly 90 percent of the people in the village have been associated with the craft since the last fifty years.

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