Kashmir Awarded Prestigious World Craft City Certificate
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Kashmir City awarded the Certificate of World Craft City by the World Crafts Council International in Srinagar. |
| Date | Decision announced in June 2024; ceremony held subsequently. |
| Key Attendees | Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Sa'ad Hani Al-Qaddumi (President of the World Crafts Council), and other notable personalities from the council. |
| Significance | Kashmir becomes the fourth Indian city to receive this honor, joining Jaipur (2015), Mamallapuram (2015), and Mysore (2018). |
| Kashmir's Craft Legacy | Crafts include Carpet Weaving, Kani-Shawl, Paper Maachie, Khatamband, Wood Carving, Kandikari Copperware, and Tilla Work. |
| Previous Recognition | Recognized as a UNESCO Creative City in 2021 under the Crafts and Folk Art category. |
| Impact of Recognition | Expected to increase global recognition, enhance export opportunities, boost tourism, raise artisan income, and preserve cultural heritage. |
| Export Growth | Handicraft exports from Kashmir rose from Rs. 1,000 to 2,000 crores in the past five years. |
| World Crafts Council | Founded in 1964 in New York, USA, by Ms. Aileen Osborn Vanderbilt Webb, Ms. Margaret Merwin Patch, and Ms. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. |