BUDGAM, AUGUST 17: Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, has extended warm congratulations to renowned Kani artisans of Kanihama village, Fayaz Ahmad Wani and his student Manzoor Ahmad Hajam, on being conferred the prestigious National Handloom Award 2025 by President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.
The award was presented to the duo in New Delhi on August 7 in the weaving category for their exceptional craftsmanship showcased through a Chanddar Kani Shawl, reflecting Kashmir’s exquisite artistic heritage and centuries-old weaving tradition.
The DC felicitated both artisans during the award ceremony of Independence Day function at Sports Stadium Budgam and lauded them for bringing distinction to Budgam and Jammu & Kashmir at the national level, describing the honour as a proud moment for the district and a significant recognition of Kashmir’s rich handloom legacy.
He appreciated their dedication and perseverance in reviving a nearly 400-year-old Kani design and transforming it into a masterpiece through traditional techniques. The award-winning shawl reportedly took over 15 months of painstaking work to complete.
The Deputy Commissioner particularly commended Fayaz Ahmad Wani for keeping the traditional craft alive and passing the skill to successive generations. Having trained more than 50 people in Kani weaving, his contribution has helped preserve the craft while creating avenues for sustainable livelihoods.
He also appreciated Manzoor Ahmad Hajam, who has been associated with his teacher’s Kani weaving unit for the past 25 years, describing their achievement as a fine example of the traditional Guru-Shishya tradition through which Kashmir’s indigenous crafts have been preserved across generations.
The DC stressed the importance of promoting traditional crafts among the youth, encouraging young artisans to take up Kani weaving and other indigenous crafts as avenues for livelihood, entrepreneurship and cultural preservation.
He said national recognition to local artisans provides renewed impetus to efforts aimed at safeguarding Kashmir’s unique artistic traditions and ensuring that traditional knowledge and skills continue to flourish among future generations.
The District Administration Budgam reiterated its commitment to supporting artisans, weavers and craftsmen and creating an enabling environment for the promotion of local handlooms and handicrafts.
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