Fading Flames: The Struggle to Keep Kashmir’s Kangri Tradition Alive
Image Source: The Quint
A kangri, also known as Kanged or Kashmiri Kanger, is an earthen pot woven around wickers filled with hot embers, used in Kashmir. It is placed beneath traditional clothing, usually called a Kashmiri phiran, to keep the chill away. A kangri is made up of two parts. The outer part is an encasement of wicker, and inside, there is an earthen bowl-shaped pot called a kundal.
The usage and making of kangri are prevalent in all parts of the Kashmir valley. Most of the areas that produce kangri are poor and uneducated. The people are still living in mud houses in this modern age. They lack necessary facilities such as water, roads, and electricity.
With the onset of winter, the demand for kangri increases in the markets of Kashmir. Particularly when snow starts falling in the valley, with time, many items and things have been replaced by new and highly compatible products in the market.
However, the kangri has not lost its market. The kangri is still in enormous demand in Kashmir, no matter how people have adopted new technological equipment such as blowers, room heaters, and electric blankets to keep themselves warm. Since there is a lack of adequate electricity supply in Kashmir Valley, these modern appliances, which run on electricity, have failed to decrease the market for kangri.
Okey (Wakai) is a small village in the Kulgam district, located about 72 km from Srinagar. The main occupation of the villagers is kangri making. Upon reaching the village, you will see people busy making kangris. These kangris can be seen along the road that passes through the village, connecting Kulgam district with Shopian district. “I started the art of kangri making at 15, and now I am 55 years old, but I still find it as interesting and passionate as before,” said Mohammad Jamal Shaikhsaz, a local kangri maker.
There are a number of kangris that makers produce. The more time a kangri takes to complete, the more precious and costly it will be.
Mohammad Jamal Shaikhsaz works with his four sons, who are also involved in kangri making. Mohammad Jamal said that he generally makes five types of kangris. These include the Band Wajin Kanger, priced from 50 to 60 rupees, the Satardar Kanger, priced from 80 to 90 rupees, and the Farash-dar Kanger, priced from 130 to 150 rupees. Other types of kangris, such as Wud Kanger, Maharaz Kanger, and Randar Kanger, are made on demand because they take a lot of time to complete and are more costly, with prices going up to 1500 rupees.
Mohammad Jamal Shaikhsaz and his sons work on their verandah to make kangris.
With the change in technology in every field, kangri making has also evolved significantly. Initially, kondals (earthen pots) were made on a potter’s wheel, which had to be manually operated, making the process difficult and time-consuming. Using this method, a person could make only 100 kondals daily.
However, with advancements in technology, a new electric wheel was introduced in kangri making. Kumars (potters) now use this electric wheel to make kondals, which is more efficient than the traditional hand-operated one. A Kumar can now make 250 to 300 kondals in a day, which is sufficient for his survival and better for his family. The average price of one kondal is about 7 to 8 rupees, which may increase or decrease depending on market demand.
The process of kangri making starts in March and continues until the end of the winter season, in February. The sale of kangris begins in October and continues until the end of February. The demand for kangris fluctuates depending on the severity of the winter season.
Neglecting the Precious Art
On one hand, people associated with this art are making every effort to keep it alive. “We are landless people, and we have no livelihood without this occupation of kangri making. We are unable to provide our children with a better education because we suffer regularly. Every year, middlemen take the whole profit from us. They provide raw materials on an advance basis and take away the entire profit from the sale of kangris,” said Rafiq Ahmad, son of Mohammad Jamal. The government has taken several steps to uplift people in different occupations in the valley, but no scheme has been made for those involved in kangri making. Children of kangri makers are not interested in continuing this art, as it seems to be no longer viable. They are moving toward different occupations for their livelihood.
Team Profile
- Freelance Journalist
- Muzafar Hamid, a resident of Srinagar, Kashmir, India, holds a master's degree in journalism and is currently undertaking a PhD program at the University of Kashmir. His academic pursuits and professional interests revolve around politics, sports, education, food, tourism, entertainment, and international events. Alongside his studies, Muzafar enjoys cricket and singing, finding fulfillment in a diverse range of activities.
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