Kashmiri Women Revive Spinning Wheel Craft

Kashmiri women are embracing modern charkhas to rejuvenate the traditional spinning wheel craft. In Srinagar’s Eidgah area, a local shawl manufacturing company, equipped 300 local Kashmiri women with modern table-top spinning wheels. These foot-operated charkhas enable the artisans to spin pashmina and silk threads, earning up to Rs. 5,000 a month while working from home.

Initiated by Mujtaba Kadri in 2021, the project introduced safer and more efficient table-top charkhas, addressing back pain concerns and boosting production. The charkhas, distributed free of cost, are crafted locally, fostering financial independence and personal growth among women.

The initiative safeguards the cherished Kashmiri tradition of spinning wool and pashmina, known as “yender.” The modern charkhas replace floor-seated spinning with table setups, enhancing comfort. This endeavor also aligns with the government’s efforts, which have increased payment for hand-spun pashmina threads from Re. 1 to Rs. 1.5 per thread.

Kadri believes the craft’s revival is within reach, fostering both cultural preservation and economic empowerment. As artisans earn Rs. 5,000 monthly, prospects of this income potentially increasing to around Rs. 15,000 instill hope for a thriving future.
Re-reported from the article written by Irshad Hussain and published in Frontline.