‘Autumn Craft Mela’ begins at Boulevard

Srinagar, Nov 17: World Famous Boulevard Road Dal Lake, Srinagar is to play host to ‘Autumn Craft Mela’, a unique handicraft and handloom exhibition showcasing the exquisite art and crafts of Kashmir. The exhibition has been put together by the Directorate of Handicrafts & Handlooms Kashmir.
Director Handicrafts & Handlooms Kashmir, Mahmood Ahmad Shah in presence of Joint Director Handicrafts Kashmir, Parveez Sajad Ganai Friday inaugurated the ten-day exhibition at Boulevard Srinagar. At the occasion Assistant Director Handicrafts/Handloom, Srinagar other officers and officials were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Director H&H Kashmir said that the Exhibition will give artisans, weavers and Cooperative societies a vibrant marketing platform to sell their products directly both to the tourists and buyers, and in turn it will give tourists visiting the Valley an opportunity to get a glimpse of the rich art and craft of Kashmir especially on the onset of Autumn season.
In order to boost the rich culture of Kashmir through handicrafts and handloom, several other exhibitions are scheduled at Gulmarg in Kashmir and in Jammu, besides the Woolen Expo at Delhi. A separate similar exhibition is currently going on at Pahalgam.
The exhibition is likely to appeal to the connoisseur and the consumer alike as our skilled artisans have been giving creative expression to their rich folklore through this medium for centuries.
The special attraction of the ongoing and upcoming exhibition is the variety of craft products presenting the rich culture of the valley that are on display and sale including Pashmina, Kani and other crafts.
On the other front, the department is expected to get GI certifications of furthermore 7 crafts like Namdha, Gubba, Crewel, Chain Stitch Crafts; proposal of which stands already submitted to GI Registrar Chennai which will help to increase the sale of genuine handmade products not only at regional but at national as well as global level.