Source: Indian Express

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Context

The GI Registry has introduced a new logo to protect the authenticity and exclusivity of Kashmir's famed hand-knotted carpets.

About Kashmir Hand-Knotted Carpet

• The origin of hand knotted carpets dates back to 15th century.
• It is locally known as "Kal baffi" 
• It is said that Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin brought carpet weavers from Persia and central Asia in to Kashmir to train the local inhabitants.
• The loom used in Kashmir carpet weaving is composed of two horizontal wooden beams between which the wrap threads are stretched, one beam in front of the weaver and the second behind the first.
• The difference between a carpet and other hand-woven rugs lies in the fact that short lengths of the thread or yarn are tied to wrap chains to form the pile of the carpet.
• These are commonly called knots though it is a loop rather than an actual knot.
• There are different types of knots and in Kashmir the Farsi baff and the Persian system known as Sehna, or Sinneh, knot is originally used.
• In the 1990s, carpet weavers shifted their focus from wool to silk carpets.
• Silk carpets are in the luxury bracket.
• However, the lack of silk processing units in Kashmir forced the weavers to buy [silk] from outside, which added to the cost of the carpet.
• The Kashmir carpet faces tough competition internationally from carpet-exporting countries like China, Turkey and Belgium, and internally from carpets manufactured in Jaipur, Agra, Bhadohi and Amritsar.
• Very simple tools are used to thread these knots, a wood or Metal comb to push knots and weft tightly together and pair of short scissors to cut the pile of the carpet to an even form once it is finished.

Other GI Tagged Kashmiri Crafts

Six other crafts have already been GI registered which include

Sources:

Indian Express