KASHMIR CARPET INDUSTRY: A centuries-old craft that once carried Kashmir's name to royal courts and luxury homes around the world is now facing a quiet decline.

The traditional handwoven carpet industry is struggling with low returns, an aging artisan workforce, declining interest among younger generations and pressure on overseas exports.

In Srinagar, elderly artisans are returning to their looms to keep the heritage craft alive. One 78-year-old weaver who stopped working in 2004 has returned to carpet weaving, while other experienced artisans continue working despite the industry's challenges.

Around 90% of Kashmir's carpets are exported, making the industry particularly vulnerable to changes in international markets and global conflicts. Industry representatives say exports have been affected, although the trade has not disappeared.

The government is now turning to technology and modernization to support the industry. Modern carpet looms are being provided free of cost, while geotagging is being introduced to authenticate genuine Kashmiri carpets. Approximately 20,000 carpets have reportedly been geotagged, allowing buyers to scan a barcode and verify a carpet's authenticity.

For Kashmir's carpet makers, the challenge is twofold: preserving the authenticity of a centuries-old tradition while ensuring that carpet weaving remains economically viable for a new generation.

KASHMIR CARPET CRISIS | Centuries-Old Handwoven Craft Faces Decline As Young Artisans Turn Away

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<p>After Srinagar&nbsp;was designated&nbsp;among the most creative cities in the World, Kashmir's artisans are making sure to live up to the expectations of this title. In a village called Wayil in North Kashmir's Kralpora area, a team of Kashmiri artisans have unveiled a masterpiece&nbsp;and&nbsp;it's been&nbsp;touted as Asia's largest handcrafted carpet.</p>

<p>This hand-knotted Kashmiri carpet is 72 feet by 40 feet, covering a vast area of 2,880 square feet. It took over 25 artisans around eight long years to complete this masterpiece. The whole carpet Industry of Kashmir valley takes pride in its creation. The intricate weaving of this exceptional carpet&nbsp;was overseen&nbsp;by two seasoned veterans of the craft, Fayaz Ahmed Shah and Abdul Gaffar Sheikh, whose unwavering dedication ensured the completion of this monumental piece despite various challenges.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/non-local-labourer-shot-at-by-terrorists-at-in-south-kashmir-712367">Non-local labourer shot dead by terrorists in South Kashmir</a></strong></p>

<p>''This was an order by someone from our country only. This carpet is 72 feet long and 40 feet&nbsp;breadth, and we have never made such a big carpet in the Kashmir Valley ever. We had to put our minds to&nbsp;a lot of&nbsp;things as it required a huge loom to&nbsp;be woven on. It was a big challenge&nbsp;and&nbsp;thank god it's&nbsp;been finally completed. I am sure&nbsp;it will be sold&nbsp;abroad, and&nbsp;I am sure in&nbsp;future we will make something bigger than this, '' said Fayaz Ahmed Shah, Craft Dealer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The last eight years of weaving this masterpiece have not been smooth. There have been multiple obstacles that the artisans faced&nbsp;particularly during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The lockdowns led to a lot of disruptions in&nbsp;supply chain.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch- Gravitas | Kashmir Tourism Boom: Over 1 Million Visitors Took Gulmarg Gondola</strong></p>

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<p>This carpet has written a new chapter for Kashmir's rich&nbsp;legacy of art and craft.&nbsp;The valley&nbsp;which&nbsp;is&nbsp;famous for its Pashmina Shawls and Silk&nbsp;Carpets&nbsp;has now found a new course with the creation of this masterpiece. And according to the craft dealers, hundreds of artisans are returning to looms to pick up carpet weaving again.</p>

<p>''We have artisans coming back to us after this carpet&nbsp;was made.&nbsp;Around 226 artisans have&nbsp;come back&nbsp;to us and said&nbsp;that&nbsp;they want to work again.&nbsp;We&nbsp;just&nbsp;hope the way any employees get&nbsp;paid;&nbsp;it has to be the same and equal wages for them as well. Our artisans need to have a life of dignity&nbsp;and&nbsp;they should&nbsp;be able to afford their families. I am telling you they will never leave the work if they&nbsp;are paid&nbsp;well.&nbsp;This&nbsp;is a teamwork. From the designs to artisans, everyone has worked very hard&nbsp;for the making of&nbsp;this masterpiece, '' said&nbsp;Shah.</p>

<p>As this masterpiece becomes a symbol of Kashmir's craftsmanship and artistic prowess, it has also become a ray of hope for the revitalisation and recognition of local artisans and their invaluable contributions to preserving the&nbsp;cultural heritage of the region.</p>


After Srinagar was designated among the most creative cities in the World, Kashmir's artisans are making sure to live up to the expectations of this title. In a village called Wayil in North Kashmir's Kralpora area, a team of Kashmiri artisans have unveiled a masterpiece and it's been touted as Asia's largest handcrafted carpet.

After Srinagar was designated among the most creative cities in the World, Kashmir's artisans are making sure to live up to the expectations of this title. In a village called Wayil in North Kashmir's Kralpora area, a team of Kashmiri artisans have unveiled a masterpiece and it's been touted as Asia's largest handcrafted carpet. This hand-knotted Kashmiri carpet is 72 feet by 40 feet, covering a vast area of 2,880 square feet. It took over 25 artisans around eight long years to complete this masterpiece. The whole carpet Industry of Kashmir valley takes pride in its creation. The intricate weaving of this exceptional carpet was overseen by two seasoned veterans of the craft, Fayaz Ahmed Shah and Abdul Gaffar Sheikh, whose unwavering dedication ensured the completion of this monumental piece despite various challenges. Also read | Non-local labourer shot dead by terrorists in South Kashmir ''This was an order by someone from our country only. This carpet is 72 feet long and 40 feet breadth, and we have never made such a big carpet in the Kashmir Valley ever. We had to put our minds to a lot of things as it required a huge loom to be woven on. It was a big challenge and thank god it's been finally completed. I am sure it will be sold abroad, and I am sure in future we will make something bigger than this, '' said Fayaz Ahmed Shah, Craft Dealer. The last eight years of weaving this masterpiece have not been smooth. There have been multiple obstacles that the artisans faced particularly during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The lockdowns led to a lot of disruptions in supply chain. Also watch- Gravitas | Kashmir Tourism Boom: Over 1 Million Visitors Took Gulmarg Gondola × This carpet has written a new chapter for Kashmir's rich legacy of art and craft. The valley which is famous for its Pashmina Shawls and Silk Carpets has now found a new course with the creation of this masterpiece. And according to the craft dealers, hundreds of artisans are returning to looms to pick up carpet weaving again. ''We have artisans coming back to us after this carpet was made. Around 226 artisans have come back to us and said that they want to work again. We just hope the way any employees get paid; it has to be the same and equal wages for them as well. Our artisans need to have a life of dignity and they should be able to afford their families. I am telling you they will never leave the work if they are paid well. This is a teamwork. From the designs to artisans, everyone has worked very hard for the making of this masterpiece, '' said Shah. As this masterpiece becomes a symbol of Kashmir's craftsmanship and artistic prowess, it has also become a ray of hope for the revitalisation and recognition of local artisans and their invaluable contributions to preserving the cultural heritage of the region.

Kashmir’s carpet artisans claim to have made Asia’s largest hand-knotted carpet

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KASHMIR CARPET CRISIS | Centuries-Old Handwoven Craft Faces Decline As Young Artisans Turn Away

Kashmir’s carpet artisans claim to have made Asia’s largest hand-knotted carpet