Sozni, Willow, and Tilla: Kashmir's Skills Find A New Audience

Thirty Master Artisans Came Together This Winter To Showcase Centuries-Old Skills, Inspiring Youth And Communities Across Kashmir.

- Rayees Ahmad Kumar

When Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat lifted a length of Pashmina under the winter sun at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in Srinagar, the threads seemed to hum with history.

Bhat has stitched thousands of Sozni patterns in his life. This season, he sat surrounded by students, showing them the careful movements that have defined his craft for decades.

"This craft can give you a way to earn a living," he said, guiding a young student's hand. "It connects you to our past and shapes your future."