Namda Art

Namda Art

News: Recently, The Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has flagged off the first batch of Namda Art products for export to the United Kingdom (UK).

What is Namda Art?
• Namda art is a traditional craft of making felted carpets and rugs using sheep wool and hand embroidery. It originated in the 16th century in Kashmir, when it was introduced by a Sufi saint named Shah-e-Hamdan. It was also patronised by the Mughal emperor Akbar, who used it to cover his horses.
• Namda art involves layering wool over each other, sprinkling water and pressing it with a tool called pinjra. The wool is then dyed and embroidered with colourful threads, creating floral patterns and motifs. Namda art is used for making floor coverings, home decor, cushions, bags and other accessories.

What challenges were faced by the art form? How did the government intervene?
• Namda art is a dying craft, as it faces competition from machine-made products and synthetic materials. It also suffers from a lack of skilled artisans, raw materials and market linkages.
• However, Skill India project under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), has helped train nearly 2,200 candidates from six districts of Jammu and Kashmir in this craft. The project has also helped in exporting Namda art products to the United Kingdom (UK)