Srinagar: In the village of Wail Kralpora, near the idyllic hill station of Gulmarg in Kashmir, a team of ten master artisans has woven a colossal tapestry of history – one of the largest hand-knotted carpets of the world.
As this behemoth, measuring a staggering 72 feet by 40 feet (2880 sq feet), was unfolded by its makers in Kralpora this week, the amazing final product is seen as an enduring legacy of Kashmiri craftsmanship.
While this carpet is being acknowledged as the biggest Kashmir carpet ever made, experts believe it would take some more time to ascertain if this carpet would qualify as the world’s biggest hand made carpet in its league.
It is an amazing revival and would go a long way in re-packaging and re-marketing Kashmir carpets in the country and globally as well, Manzoor Ahmad Shah, a carpet exporter told Ziraat Times.
The story behind this magnificent carpet begins with its conception. Zahir Shah, a young carpet trader from Srinagar, brimming with pride in his heritage and confident network of buyers, envisioned this masterpiece for a buyer who is known to treasure hand made carpets of Kashmir.
The carpet was knitted in the master supervision of two veterans of the craft – Fayaz Ahmed Shah and Abdul Gaffar Sheikh – who persevered and ensured that the carpet was completed despite the odds.
The completion of this carpet will spark a renewed interest in Kashmiri carpets. It is going to get a lot of media attention and we are grateful to Ziraat Times for putting this news in social media spaces, says Fayaz Nayak, a carpet trader from Baramulla.
Artisans like Mohammad Ashraf Parray, Nisar Ahmed Parray, Firdous Ahmed Dar and Mohammad Maqbool Paray toiled long hours to turn this dream into a reality.
The task, however, was daunting. Unlike commercially produced carpets, this behemoth is a labor of love, meticulously hand-knotted thread by thread. A team of ten skilled weavers, veterans in the art of carpet weaving from this Tangmarg village, took on the challenge. For eight long years, they meticulously translated this vision into reality.
Kashmir, renowned for its pashmina shawls and intricate carpets, has a rich history of textile artistry dating back centuries. Each weaver brought to the project not just their skill, but also the inheritance of generations past.
The chosen design was a symphony of colors, a vibrant tapestry reflecting the soul of Kashmir. A base of rich red, symbolic of passion and warmth, provided a canvas for a breathtaking floral motif. Flowers in shades of blue, gold, and yellow bloomed across the expanse, reminiscent of the valley’s meadows bursting with life. A broad border, mirroring the central theme, framed the masterpiece, completing its grandeur.
However, the journey was not without its challenges. The eight years of creation coincided with the unprecedented global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns and disruptions to the supply chain threatened to derail the project. Yet, the spirit of the weavers remained unbroken. They adapted, innovated, and persevered, their commitment to their craft burning brighter in the face of adversity.
Finally, after eight arduous yet fulfilling years, the colossal carpet was complete.
Would this qualify as the largest hand knotted carpet in the world?
It is rather early to say that. While the materials used in this carpet could determine whether it is the largest hand made carpet of its league, the largest hand-woven carpet measures 5,630 m² (60,600.81 ft²) and was manufactured by the Iran Carpet Company (Iran). It was created for the Abu Dhabi mosque and was measured in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 2007. The carpet was created in 9 parts and assembled in the mosque. This carpet currently holds the world record of the largest hand made carpet.
