Preserving cultural heritage

The Handicrafts and Handloom Department in Kashmir trained over 8,000 new artisans in Kashmir’s GI-registered papier mache craft, which marks a significant step towards preserving cultural heritage while strengthening livelihoods. The department has 19 training centres across Kashmir Division, imparting hands-on training in papier mache craft to around 400 artisans in elementary and advanced training courses every year. The Department has trained as many as 8,102 new papier mache artisans across the valley, who have taken the unique craft forward and carved out a niche for themselves. Papier mache is a living symbol of the Valley’s history, creativity and resilience. By expanding the base of skilled artisans, this initiative offers renewed hope to a craft that has faced years of neglect, market volatility and competition from machine-made imitations. The Geographical Indication (GI) tag has given Kashmiri papier mache a distinct identity and legal protection, but its true value lies in empowering artisans to translate tradition into sustainable income. Structured training programmes help young craftsmen and women master intricate designs, quality standards and finishing techniques that define authentic papier mache. Equally important is the transfer of knowledge from senior artisans to a new generation, ensuring continuity of skills that have been passed down for centuries. The induction of thousands of trained artisans into this GI-protected craft is a promising beginning. If backed by consistent policy support and market-driven strategies, papier mache can once again become a reliable source of pride and prosperity for Kashmir’s artisan community, blending tradition with opportunity.