Ganderbal artisan’s creative push to willow wicker helps boost sales of traditional craft

Ganderbal, Aug 27: For 56-year-old craftsman Bashir Ahmad Dar of Peerpora village in Ganderbal, revival of willow wicker craft, locally known as “Kaani Keam”, has been at the centre stage of his life.
Wicker is the name commonly given to the sticks grown for over a year. Generally, wicker is grown in the cool environs and requires a large quantity of water. It is found in Shallabug village of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
The long branches of wicker willow are then cut after one year of growth and processed with boiling water for at least three days to ensure water resistance and durability. The village produces a lot of raw material from locally cultivated willow rushes and reeds. Dar (56) is upbeat about his venture Shaaksaz Willow Wicker Craft Producer Company Limited.
Dar says he established his willow wicker shop in the year 2020 in Peerpora Ganderbal which has now emerged as a focal point of this burgeoning trend. He said that willow is mainly used to make baskets, kangri and ornaments which are usually presented as gifts on weddings, anniversaries and other occasions that also highlights Kashmiri culture.
Dar’s dedication has yielded impressive results, with wicker willow items now becoming a reliable source of revenue for local artisans. He said his brand also took part in the third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting that was held in May this year, where the designs of willow craft were praised by the delegates, he added.
“We have not received an international purchase order but our handmade products demand in the major cities in like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata are placing orders online. We also sold our products in Ganderbal district. Artisans are doing their best to make these products of willow,” he added.
He said currently 10,000 families are associated with the crafts for their livelihood. The wicker willow craft is witnessing an extraordinary revival that promises to secure its place on the global map. He added that the government is providing every possible facilities to the artisans.