Do you know, what is the second major source of livelihood for the people of Kashmir after tourism? It is handicraft. The valley is a haven for culture lovers looking forward to witness varied art & craft in the state. Kashmir's artefacts are already very popular among people all over the country and abroad. This centuries-old craft and heritage of Kashmir got huge recognition in the Global Platform.
As per the Tweet by P.M. Narendra Modi, Srinagar has made it to the prestigious list of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) for craft and folk art. Worldwide, 48 other cities have joined the UCCN this year. Among them, Srinagar is the only Indian city to receive global recognition this year.
What is the Creative Cities Network?
In 2004, UNESCO had created this network to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. It covers seven creative fields, i.e., Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature, and Music. The cities can be from all continents with different income levels or with various levels of populations.
The inclusion of Srinagar in the creative city network for the arts and crafts of UNESCO has paved a way for it to represent its handicrafts on the global stage through the international body.
Which other Indian cities have been recognised under UCCN?
Before 2019, only three cities have been recognised as a member of UCCN, namely, Jaipur, Varanasi, and Chennai. In 2019, Mumbai and Hyderabad were included in the list. Now in 2021, among the four nominations from India, only Srinagar has been accepted as the creative city. Gwalior, Indore, and Kolkata are the rest of the three whose nominations were rejected.
It is a proud moment for us. This news will surely boost the handicraft industry, which was majorly affected by the pandemic. Next time, when you visit Srinagar, don’t forget to shop and take some of the handicraft items with you back & flaunt them off to everyone.
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