New Delhi :-Natural calamity can’t deter the strong will of Kashmiris. Defying all odds,Jammu and Kashmir pavilion beckons IITF visitors. With 30 participants, the pavilion features a wide range of items. There is also a live demonstrations by 10 artists and craft persons even from the flood affected valley. These includes: Ms. Nargis Crewel, Craft Srinagar, S.P. Raina, Basohli, Jammu, Fahmeeda, Zari Craft, Srinagar, Chasfeeda, Sozni Craft, Shashi Sharma,Phoolkari, Jammu, Ifee Jan, Chain Stitching, Srinagar, Gulam Rasool Ahmad,Wood carving.According to Mr. Riyaz Ahemad, Director, Jammu and Kashmir pavilion, “ We are holding participation with full enthusiasm inspite of fact there was an unfortunate massive flood in Valley”. As visitor enters inside the pavilion, the first stall testifies photographs of the flood affected valley and restoration work. J&K pavilion highlights Kashmir handicrafts and handlooms for exquisite buys. This is the place of legendary Pashmina shawls, suits, pheran and a paper-mache-the art of making objects from paper pulp. Visitors find containers painted up in bright traditional colours and designs, and make excellent souvenirs. If visitor so fancy, he can even buy a samovar, which Kashmiris use for making the aditional Kashmiri tea, the ‘Kehwa’.
Participation profile covers: Information&-Tourism Kashmir, Directorate of Handicrafts, School of Designs, Srinagar, J&K Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation, Handloom Dev. Corporation, SIDCO & SICOP, Madri Meharban Trust, Horticulture Planning and Marketing Corporation, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry,Handloom Development Department, J&K Women Development Corporation, Federation Chamber of Industry-Kashmir, JK Industries, KVIB, Agro Industries, ADH Leh and Kargil and J&K Apex Marketing Federation. The pavilion highlights tourism attractions of both of the regions i.e. Jammu and Ladakh, which are renowned for their beauty. Like all other stories, it rings completely true. When the emperor Jahangir first set eyes on the valley of Kashmir, in the 17th century, he couldn’t help but mutter reathlessly, ‘Agar Firdaus ba rue Zamin ast, bamin ast, bamin ast, bamin ast’ (If paradise is any where on earth, Firdaus, it is here, it is here). The pavilion is a beautiful manifestation of an inspiration for music, art and verses of one of the most renowned poetesses of the Valley , Lall Ded . Information is available on magical culture, hospitality which will hold the visitors spell-bound. This pavilion of a paradise, after all, is too good to resist.
