Kashmir's history began as a center of Buddhism, then Hinduism spread, with both religions coexisting. After the Mongol invasion in the 14th century, Islam ruled for about five centuries, and it was later annexed by the Sikh kingdom of Punjab and the Dogra kingdom of Jammu. In modern times, it is a disputed territory between India, Pakistan and China, and is also known as the culturally important producer of Kashmir silk.
Geographical and climatic characteristics of Kashmir
Kashmir is divided among Pakistan, India and China. India controls the largest area (approximately 101,338 square kilometers), Pakistan controls approximately 85,846 square kilometers, and China controls approximately 37,555 square kilometers. The climate of the region varies with altitude, with the lowlands having hot, humid summers and cold, humid winters. The higher elevations have short, cool summers and long, cold winters.
Kashmiri culture is influenced by Central Asia and Persia and is characterised by dance, music, cuisine and carpet weaving. Traditional dress is colourful, with jewellery for women and kurta pyjamas for men, and handicrafts, especially pashmina shawls and handwoven carpets, are well known. Dance and music are also deeply rooted in Kashmir's culture and a wide variety of dance and music are enjoyed at festivals.
The process of manufacturing Kashmir Silk
1. Mulberry Cultivation : We cultivate mulberry trees, which are the main food source for silkworms, the source of silk.
2. Rearing of Silkworms : Silkworms, a species of silkworm, are reared to produce the cocoons that are the raw material for silk. These silkworms are flightless and lay up to 500 eggs in their short life span. The eggs are kept at a temperature between 18°C and 25°C.
3. Cocoon Collection : The cocoons produced by mature silkworms provide the raw silk from which silk threads are extracted. These threads are long, continuous strands of protein that are spun by the silkworms.
4. De-threading : This is the process of unraveling the silk threads from the collected cocoons.
5. Dyeing : The unraveled silk threads are dyed.
6. Spinning : This is the process of converting the dyed silk thread into a form that is easy to weave.
Kashmiri silk is soft and of high quality with a unique sheen and long fibers. These silks are woven with very fine knots and are said to last at least 30 years without any issues.
Kashmir silk carpets are known for their luster, softness and high quality, which has earned them a worldwide reputation, with high-end and international demand predicted to continue to grow.
