UNESCO creative tag for Srinagar, How important it is?

Ground Report | New Delhi: UNESCO creative tag for Srinagar; The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, was one of the 49 cities across the world that were included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) on Monday. These 49 cities were added to the list after UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay recognized "their commitment to keeping culture and creativity at the center of development and sharing knowledge and good practices".

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UNESCO creative tag for Srinagar

UNESCO has designated creative cities in seven areas - crafts, folk art, media arts, film design, gastronomy, literature, and music. The city of Srinagar has been designated as a creative city in the field of handicrafts and folk arts - second only to India in this category after Jaipur. While Mumbai has been honored in the film category, Chennai and Varanasi have been made part of UCCN for their music. Hyderabad is a UCCN city in the gastrointestinal tract.

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This year, four Indian cities - Kolkata, Gwalior, Indore, and Srinagar - had applied to the Ministry of Culture. Director of Handicrafts Mahmood Ahmad Shah said. "While it is customary to declare two cities from each country, this year UNESCO has designated only Srinagar city as part of UCCN."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the inclusion of Srinagar in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). He said it was a fitting tribute to the vibrant cultural ethos of the city. The Prime Minister tweeted, "Glad that the beautiful city of Srinagar has been included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network with a special mention of handicrafts and folk arts." There is due respect for the cultural ethos. Greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir."

Delighted that beautiful Srinagar joins the @UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art. It is a fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar. Congratulations to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 8, 2021

LG Manoj Sinha thanks to PM Modi

At the same time, the office of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha tweeted and wrote that Srinagar has been included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. It is the fruit of the hard work of the artisans and weavers of Jammu and Kashmir. Congratulations to the entire J&K team. He tagged the Srinagar Mayor and the officials there in this tweet.

In the second tweet, the Lieutenant Governor wrote that thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this achievement. He has always given special priority to Jammu and Kashmir. The dossier of the exceptionally rich arts and crafts heritage of Srinagar was carefully prepared and presented in June this year.

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Describing Srinagar as the biggest day for the entire district with the UNESCO tag, the Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Junaid Azeem Mattu said on Tuesday that he has decided to celebrate a month-long celebration. ۔

Addressing a press conference here, Mattu, who was accompanied by SMC Commissioner Athar Amir Khan, Director Industries Mehmood Shah, and others, said that he was committed to ensuring that Srinagar achieves this milestone. Serious efforts have been made.

"We have achieved this milestone after a lot of hard work and dedication. We have been pursuing it since 2018 and finally after the hard work and serious efforts of the SMC Commissioner and other concerned officers we have achieved this milestone. This is the biggest day for the whole of Srinagar, ”said Mattu.

Art & craft of Srinagar

Kashmiri handicrafts is a traditional art of Kashmiri people and artisans who make handicrafts, handicrafts and decorations. Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam are important districts of Central Kashmir which have been producing handicrafts for ages. The rest of its districts, including Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Budgam, are known for their cultural heritage, which spreads the handicraft industry in the Centrally Administered Territory.

Kashmiri art with palanquins, sheets, trunks, ink stands, boxes and spoons was popular all over India, besides, shawl making was extraordinary. Kashmiris traditionally make a variety of handicrafts from simple materials and materials. Some of the notable areas are textiles, carpets and rugs, creole embroidery, floriculture, silverware, woodwork and paper mache.

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