Srinagar: Two shawl weavers — Manzoor Ahmad Hajam and Fayaz Ahmad Wani, from Kanihama, Budgam, have been conferred with the prestigious National Handloom Award, in recognition for their contribution in the field of Kani weaving, an official press release informed Saturday.
It said they were conferred with the National Award for their joint entry – Chand-Daar Kani Shawl – by the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, during a function held at New Delhi, to commemorate the National Handloom Day.
In a press release issued here today, a spokesman of the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, stated that this honour is a fitting tribute to the invaluable contribution of Manzoor Ahmad Hajam and Fayaz Ahmad Wani, who have distinguished themselves in the indigenous art of Kani weaving.
“By winning such a prestigious award, the master weavers have brought the Kani weaving technique to the forefront of the crafts sector, which will surely open up new vistas of business opportunities for the high value craft,” the spokesman added.
The award, which carries a citation and cash prize of ₹2.5 lakh, is for a rare form of Kani weaving technique guided by coded Talim scripts to ensure absolute precision, featuring nearly 20 distinct hues to recreate an antique masterpiece.
The spokesman further stated that their exquisite craftsmanship has not only kept our centuries-old tradition alive but has also earned global admiration. “They have become role models for thousands of weavers in Kashmir and the entire craft community celebrates this joyous moment with great pride,” he added.
