Ten craftspersons have woven what they claim is Kashmir’s largest handmade carpet, measuring 72 feet by 40 feet (2,880 square feet), which is almost the size of a tennis court (2,808 sq ft), in the picturesque town of Tangmarg, located near the popular tourist town of Gulmarg.
Work on the masterpiece, according to its weavers, started in 2016, and after eight long years of hard labour it was finally completed in 2024.
Measuring an astounding 72 feet by 40 feet (2,880 square feet) the carpet was unveiled by its creators this week, who see it as an enduring legacy of Kashmiri craftsmanship.
"About 37.5 crore knots of silk threads, and around 25 artisans completed the carpet in over eight years," said a craftsman involved in the weaving process.
People associated with the project say efforts are being made to determine if it could surpass the world record.
Artists of this masterpiece credit Zahir Shah, a young carpet exporter from Srinagar, with envisioning how the massive carpet would be handcrafted for a buyer who values such pieces.
Two of the finest carpet weavers of north Kashmir, Fayaz Ahmed Shah and Abdul Gaffar Sheikh, both of whom are second and third-generation craftsmen, supervised the carpet makers.
“It gives us immense pleasure that after hectic efforts and hard work, the carpet was completed and handed over to the Srinagar-based carpet exporter,” Sheikh said.
Kashmiri handicrafts, whether shawl-making, woodcarving, or papier mache art, are well recognised both nationally and internationally.
However, this sector in recent times has been shrinking due to shrinking demand. Many craftsmen find it difficult to meet their living expenses.
The people associated with this craft have urged the government to provide different schemes to support people in the industry.
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