Charar-i-Sharief, Oct

21 (HS): People in the Kashmir

valley have relied on the traditional kangri to fend off the bitter cold of

winter since time immemorial. Despite the availability of modern heating

appliances, the kangri continues to hold sway.

With the onset of autumn

to be followed by bitter winter, kangris have begun appearing in shops across

towns and villages. They are not only a means of combating the harsh cold but

also an integral part of Kashmir’s rich culture.

Kangris are made in

various parts of the valley, but those crafted in Charar-i-Sharief in central

Kashmir are known for their distinctive design and fine craftsmanship. The town

is renowned worldwide as the abode of Alamdar-e-Kashmir Hazrat Sheikh

Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA).

A kangri is an earthen

pot encased in a wicker basket woven from willow twigs. It is filled with

burning embers and carried under the traditional gown, the pheran, to keep the

body warm.

Modern heating devices

have affected its use and trade to some extent, yet the kangri remains a

fixture in almost every Kashmiri home.

Ghulam Hassan Khadim, a

well-known kangri maker from Charar-i-Sharief, said the town’s kangris enjoy a

special association with Alamdar-e-Kashmir, which has made them popular across

the valley and in several parts of the country.

Speaking to Hindusthan

Samachar, he said: “The biggest hallmark of the Charar-i-Sharief kangri is its

association with Alamdar-e-Kashmir. Devotees of the saint also buy it as a

keepsake of blessing (tabarruk).”

He added that the kangri

is also distinctive in its structure and finish. Most people in the valley

start buying kangris as early as autumn, he said, and customers have begun

thronging his workshop.

Asked about the impact of

modern heating appliances on the trade, Khadim said he remains content with his

work despite a decline in demand.

“My family has been

associated with this craft for 70 years, and I have been doing this work for 40

years to support my family. It is from this trade that I educated my children.

I am satisfied with this work despite the fall in demand,” he said.

However, he expressed

regret that the younger generation is not taking up the craft. “The new

generation does not learn this work. They prefer other jobs to earn a

livelihood. One reason is that they lack the patience this work demands, and

the earnings are also not high,” he said.

Khadim said Kashmiri

Pandits used to buy special kangris for the Herath festival, but the trade

suffered after their migration from the valley.

“Pandits used to buy

special kangris during Herath and send them as gifts to their daughters. That

practice came to an end after their migration, which adversely affected the

business,” he said.

Given the fall in demand,

artisans now make kangris in a variety of designs that serve not only as

heating devices but also as home décor, he said.

A special kangri

presented to a bride at weddings costs between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000, Khadim

said. Such pieces take more time and material to make, but also fetch good

returns, he added.

Ordinary kangris used for

warmth come in different varieties and are priced accordingly. “Kangris used

for everyday warmth are relatively simple and cheaper, costing between Rs 250

and Rs 300, while better ones priced between Rs 800 and Rs 1,200 are bought by

the well-off,” he said.

Khadim said thousands of

people still depend on the industry. “Thousands of people, from kangri makers

to traders, earn their livelihood from this business. Some material for the

special kangris comes from Delhi, while hundreds of people here, from potters

to willow-twig sellers, support their families through this trade,” he said.

On the government’s

efforts to promote the industry, Khadim said it has been paying serious

attention to the sector for the past two to three years, with concrete steps

being taken for its promotion.

“The Handicrafts

Department honours artisans with awards to encourage them and also provides

subsidised bank loans to needy craftsmen,” he said.

He said that with

sustained attention from the government and the public, the industry could

become a major and effective source of employment for unemployed youth in the

valley.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat