Srinagar, Sep 11 (NVI) The Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, organised the September edition of its ‘Know Your Artisan’ initiative at SK Park here on the sidelines of the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK), officials said.
The event focused on showcasing Kashmir’s high-value GI-tagged and traditional crafts, attracting tourists, students, craft enthusiasts and members of the public, they said.
According to a department spokesperson, 26 stalls were set up at the venue, allowing visitors to explore handcrafted products and interact directly with master artisans.
The School of Designs, Kashmir, organised live craft demonstrations, while a ‘Try Corner’ provided visitors an opportunity to experience pottery, papier-mache and needlework.
Live music, organised in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, was also held during the event.
Students from various schools and colleges participated in the programme and interacted with artisans, watched live demonstrations and tried their hand at traditional crafts, the spokesperson said.
The initiative also provided artisans an opportunity to showcase their skills and market their products directly to tourists, buyers and the general public.
The department said the ‘Know Your Artisan’ series aims to create awareness about the heritage value, authenticity and craftsmanship associated with Kashmir’s traditional crafts while strengthening the connect between artisans and consumers.
The encouraging response to the initiative has prompted the department to take it to prominent tourist destinations and other high-footfall areas to provide greater visibility and market access to artisans, it said.
The department also appealed to tourists, buyers and craft enthusiasts to purchase authentic Kashmiri handicrafts and support efforts aimed at preserving the region’s traditional craft heritage.(NVI)
