SRINAGAR: Rafiq Ahmed Sofi, a master artisan from Eidgah in Srinagar, has won the National Award 2025 in the hand-knotted carpet category, conferred by the Union Ministry of Textiles.
Sofi is the sole awardee from Jammu and Kashmir in the category for 2025. He has been recognised for a carpet featuring intricate floral motifs, traditional architectural patterns and calligraphic elements.
The Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, congratulated Sofi, saying the award recognised his craftsmanship and contribution to the traditional art of hand-knotted carpet weaving.
Kashmir’s hand-knotted carpets are known for their intricate knotting techniques, distinctive designs and taleem, the coded system used to guide the weaving process. The craft received a Geographical Indication (GI) registration in 2016.
The Directorate said the recognition highlighted the continued relevance of the region’s traditional carpet-making heritage and could help draw further attention to Kashmir’s carpet industry.
A formal award ceremony is scheduled for December 2026, when Sofi and other awardees will be felicitated.
