Pashmina products launched in Kashi

VARANASI: A beautiful fusion of Leh-Ladakh heritage handicraft and Kashi craftsmanship, resulting in the form of Pashmina shawls and stoles, were launched at a ceremony organised at the circuit house here on Friday.
These products weighing 240gm (shawl) and 200gm (stole) were woven by the master weavers in Kashi, while the spinning was done by the women in Leh-Ladakh."A history is being scripted today with the synthesis of skills of Kashmir Valley and Kashi.
The exquisite Pashmina reached Kashi from Leh-Ladakh for bringing an opportunity of sustainable employment in both regions," said chairman of Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC), Vinai Kumar Saxena while speaking at the launch ceremony.
He said that the Pashmina, which is the indigenous handicraft of Leh-Ladakh, is being produced outside that region for the first time.
"The weaving of Pashmina products in Varanasi will not only create sustainable job opportunities in Varanasi but it will also benefit the spinners in Leh-Ladakh," said Saxena, adding that around 50 MT raw Pashmina is produced in Leh-Ladakh per annum out of which, after cleaning and processing, only 15 MT dehaired wool is actually produced for production of Pashmina wool products.
Even in just 15 MT dehaired Pashmina wool, a meagre 500 kg quantity (0.5 MT only) is utilized in Leh-Ladakh by a few small units for manufacturing of Pashmina products, which is causing loss of employment in Ladakh. "Now, the women spinners in Leh-Ladakh will get the work of spinning round the year, and it will result in regular income for them," he said. Two women spinners, Shiring and Shonam, who came to Varanasi to take part in the launching ceremony, also said that the weaving of Pashmina in Varanasi will give them work throughout the year. This initiative in Varanasi would ensure round-the-year livelihood to women artisans in Leh-Ladakh where spinning activities are suspended for nearly half the year due to the extreme cold. According to Saxena, the raw Pashmina wool is procured from Ladakh and brought to Delhi for dehairing, cleaning and processing. The processed wool, in the form of roving, is brought back to Leh where it is handspun into yarn by women Khadi artisans on modern Charkhas provided by KVIC.
The finished yarn is then sent to Varanasi where it is woven by trained Khadi weavers into final Pashmina products.
The Pashmina weaving in Varanasi is being done by four khadi institutions, including Krishak Gramodyog Vikas Sansthan, Varanasi, Shri Mahadev Khadi Gramodyog Sansthan, Ghazipur, Khadi Kambal Udyog Sansthan, Ghazipur and Gram Sewa Ashram, Ghazipur. The KVIC will be selling the Pashmina products through its showrooms, outlets and through its online portal.
The function was also attended by UP minister Ravindra Jaiswal, regional director of KVIC DS Bhati, master weavers and others. The finished Pashmina products were put on display at the launching ceremony.