In an age of polished tiles, designer carpets and imported décor, many traditional crafts are quietly disappearing from everyday life. Across Kashmir, homes that once relied on handmade floor coverings have increasingly shifted to modern alternatives.

The result is not just a change in interior design, but the gradual loss of skills and traditions that once shaped life in the Valley.

For generations, Waguv — locally known as Wague or Wuguv — was a familiar presence in Kashmiri homes. Handwoven from dried rice straw and wetland reeds, these mats kept homes warm in winter and cool during summer.

Until the early 2000s, it was difficult to find a household without one.

But changing lifestyles and the arrival of cheaper, factory-made alternatives pushed the craft to the margins. As demand fell, artisans gave up their looms and looked elsewhere for work. Slowly, a centuries-old tradition began slipping away.

Between changing lifestyles and disappearing skills

Kashmir has long been known for its craftsmanship — from pashmina shawls to walnut wood carving and papier-mâché work. While some of these crafts continue to thrive, many lesser-known traditions have struggled to survive.

Wuguv weaving was one of them.

As younger generations moved towards education, urban jobs and digital careers, fewer people chose to learn the craft. Without artisans to carry the knowledge forward, the future of Wuguv began to look uncertain.

A father and daughter determined to keep a tradition alive

In Srinagar, however, one family decided not to let the craft disappear.

Gulam Hassan and his daughter Tanzila have spent the last few years trying to revive Wuguv weaving — not only as a cultural tradition but also as a source of livelihood for local families.

What began as a small effort inside their own home has slowly grown into a community initiative.

Tanzila, a 24-year-old college student from Dalgate, learned the craft by watching her father work.

By the early 2000s, very few artisans were still practising Wuguv weaving as demand continued to decline. Concerned that the craft could vanish altogether, Gulam Hassan began reviving it after 2020.

As interest........

© The Better India