Kashmir Artisans Win National Awards in Carpet Weaving, Sozni | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Two master artisans from Srinagar have brought national recognition to Kashmir’s handicraft sector after being selected for the prestigious National Award in the handicrafts category, announced by the Union Ministry of Textiles.

Manzoor Ahmad Khan of Rainawari and Khawaja Nazir Ali of Alamgiri Bazar will be honoured by the President of India at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on December 9 for excellence in hand-knotted carpet weaving and sozni embroidery, respectively.

In a statement, the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Textiles and congratulated the awardees, calling their achievement a proud moment for the region’s craft traditions. The spokesman said Kashmir’s globally renowned crafts, celebrated for intricate patterns and rich colourwork, continue to gain recognition through the dedication of artisans like Khan and Ali.

According to Sheikh Rafiq, Field Officer in the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), the National Award includes a citation and a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh. Two other Kashmiri artisans — Mashkoora Hameed of Budgam (sozni embroidery) and Mir Arshad Hussain of Srinagar (papier mache) — have received special mention and have also been invited to the awards ceremony.

Khan, a noted carpet weaver, recently secured first place in the UT Artisan Awards 2024 at SKICC and has been featured in the “Know Your Artisan” initiative at the Jhelum Riverfront. He is also set to participate in the Guru-Shishya Hastashilp Prashikshan Programme for Kupwara under the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, Srinagar.

Ali, known for his mastery in sozni embroidery, has also added the National Award to his distinguished career.

Director Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir, Mussarat Islam, said the national-level recognition would further strengthen the market positioning of Kashmiri crafts and help expand their reach to new international segments, particularly in South East Asia.

The department said it would soon organise a felicitation event for the award winners and special mention recipients.