Srinagar: Inside a modest home in Batpora Kanihama, the rhythmic click of wooden looms once again fills the air — a sound that had all but vanished from the village a few years ago.
Manzoor Ahmad, 45, who had given up weaving Kani shawls for odd jobs after the market was flooded with cheaper machine-made Amritsari imitations, now oversees two looms running full-time in his home. Nine artisans work under his roof, reviving a centuries-old tradition that had nearly slipped away.
“I had lost hope. But now, the demand for Kani shawls is back. It feels like the old days again,” Manzoor said, his eyes fixed on the intricate patterns taking shape on the loom.
The turnaround has begun recently after the Geographical Indication (GI) tag was granted to Kani shawls, along with several other Kashmiri crafts. The tag, which certifies authenticity and origin, has not only protected the art from imitation but also restored its prestige in national and international markets.
The impact is visible across Batpora Kanihama — a village where over 350 households are now engaged in Kani weaving, an art that once faced extinction. The intricate handwoven shawls, known for their elaborate designs created using wooden sticks called kanis, are regaining their rightful place in the luxury craft market.
For younger artisans like Bilal Ahmad Ganie, 37, who inherited the craft from his father, the revival has brought both pride and prosperity. “The demand for Kani shawls has soared in the market, with better returns for artisans. In the last few years, many young people have learnt this art. We are getting a good market and good demand,” he said. “
Local workshops in the village are once again abuzz, with master weavers mentoring apprentices eager to learn the delicate technique that can take months — sometimes even years — to complete a single shawl. The GI tag has brought buyers directly to the artisans, ensuring they receive fair prices for their painstaking craftsmanship.
An official from the handicrafts department said the GI tagging of different crafts, including Pashmina and Kani shawls, has brought the crafts to the limelight with the revival of the art.