Mehrab Karigari Carpet (PART 1)

35 years ago, Sheikh Shaukat Ali, my Naanu, bought this carpet as a gift for his daughter to take with her to her marital home. My mother's been married only 25 years, so for the first 10 years of its life this carpet hung proud in my grandfather's home in Kashmir, as a welcome to guests. The traditional Kashmiri Mehrab karigari is silk on silk, as opposed to the staple cotton on silk. The fine texture of silk demands at least 6 months of the karigar's life, and patience, that is often lost in the new world of fast consumption.

Unable to find its place in their modest home in Delhi, for the first 10 years of my parent's marriage the carpet remained rolled up but in sight. While it can be mistaken for a floor 'carpet', it would be almost sinful to put the wall-hanging on the ground, as I was told through my childhood, till the hanging was mounted and displayed on the wall. That was over 15 years ago; today the design melts into the walls and exists in its overlooked corner till a new guest enters our Delhi home. Then it's a conversation starter like no other! A pleasant reminder of a culture that roots us, of unmatched patience and resilience.

Contributed By :

Zoya Khanday