By Fahim Mattoo
Namdas, the coarse, sheep-wool floor rugs can be found in almost every Kashmiri household. But, Namda weavers are on a decline. Farooq Ahmad Khan, a 40-year-old weaver, is using a new nano-felt technique to make the Namda craft more versatile.
Namdas, the coarse, sheep-wool floor rugs can be found in almost every Kashmiri household. But, Namda weavers are on a decline. Farooq Ahmad Khan, a 40-year-old weaver, is using a new nano-felt technique to make the Namda craft more versatile.
By Sadaf Shabir
Ali Mohammad Najar from Budgam, Kashmir, is painfully aware that he is perhaps one of the last custodians of the craft of wooden utensils, which were once integral to every Kashmiri kitchen. The craftsman now works as a labourer and repairs wooden roofs to make ends meet.
Ali Mohammad Najar from Budgam, Kashmir, is painfully aware that he is perhaps one of the last custodians of the craft of wooden utensils, which were once integral to every Kashmiri kitchen. The craftsman now works as a labourer and repairs wooden roofs to make ends meet.
By Fahim Mattoo
The Khatamband wooden ceiling is one of the legacies of Kashmir’s traditional architecture. The beautifully handcrafted ceilings, replete with motifs, was a common feature of all buildings in the region, be it palaces, shrines, mosques, homes of nobles, and even houseboats. Khatamband craft is making a comeback after a slump, giving hope to Kashmiri craftsmen.
The Khatamband wooden ceiling is one of the legacies of Kashmir’s traditional architecture. The beautifully handcrafted ceilings, replete with motifs, was a common feature of all buildings in the region, be it palaces, shrines, mosques, homes of nobles, and even houseboats. Khatamband craft is making a comeback after a slump, giving hope to Kashmiri craftsmen.
By Safoora Hilal
A community of folk theatre artistes, the Bhands, travel from village to village in colourful outfits carrying the dhol, nagara and the sornai (a wooden flute). Their skits use lampoons, music and dance, to bring up problematic issues in politics, society and in religion.
A community of folk theatre artistes, the Bhands, travel from village to village in colourful outfits carrying the dhol, nagara and the sornai (a wooden flute). Their skits use lampoons, music and dance, to bring up problematic issues in politics, society and in religion.