Art & Culture

A 60-day skill intervention, contemporary product design, institutional support and international exposure are giving Kashmir’s traditional willow wicker craft a new economic identity PEERPORA, GANDERBAL, J&K: For generations, willow wicker has been woven into the cultural and economic fabric of Kashmir. In the villages of Ganderbal, the traditional craft known locally as Keani Keam has…

From the windswept highlands of Ladakh to the looms of Kashmir, Pashmina represents far more than luxury—it is a centuries-old story of nature, craftsmanship and rural livelihoods. As efforts to secure Geographical Indication (GI) protection gather momentum, the focus is shifting towards safeguarding the authenticity of this iconic Indian craft and the artisans who keep…

From humble reeds and paddy straw to an eco-conscious lifestyle product, the revival of Waggu is bringing a remarkable Kashmiri craft tradition back into the spotlight. Srinagar: In the quiet marshlands of Kashmir, a remarkable story of tradition, resilience and renewal is taking shape. Known as Waggu, Wagoo or Vagu, the traditional Kashmiri mat—crafted from…

Srinagar: In a significant initiative aimed at strengthening traditional craftsmanship while creating new livelihood opportunities for artisans, the Handicrafts Service Centre (HSC), Srinagar, under the National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP), has commenced a two-month Design Development Workshop (DDW) at Kachan, Ganderbal, focusing on the traditional Willow Wicker craft of Kashmir. The intensive workshop is designed…

The five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) / Training of Assessors (ToA) programme commenced on 21 July 2026 at Deendayal Hastkala Sankul, Varanasi, with the active participation of 35 Master Craft Persons (MCPs) from the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The programme is being successfully conducted by the Handicrafts…

The process of selecting the recipients of the National Award, Shilp Guru Award, Design Award, and other prestigious honours in the Handicrafts and Handloom sectors has reached its final stage. The recommendations of the High-Level National Selection Committee are being finalized and placed under seal, marking the culmination of a rigorous, transparent, and confidential evaluation…

It is a matter of great pride, honour, and encouragement for the artisan and weaving communities across the nation that the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, has initiated the selection process for the prestigious National Awards, Shilp Guru Awards, Design Awards, and other distinguished honours in the field…

A seminar on “Furniture Industry Compliance & Certification” was organized under the aegis of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) in collaboration with Complise India and Complise Global on 12 June 2026 at Hotel Tulip, Jaipur. The programme witnessed the participation of around 90 delegates, including representatives from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), handicraft…

The Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, organized a Cross Functional Convergence Meeting with the objective of strengthening coordination, collaboration, and convergence among various organizations/institutions for the overall development of the handicrafts sector. The meeting was organized with the following objectives: To facilitate effective coordination and convergence among various…

In rural areas of India, agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood, while handloom and handicrafts often serve as a secondary source of income for many families. People in these regions possess deep knowledge of their traditional skills and crafts, which are passed down from generation to generation. Using locally available natural resources, they create…