Anantnag: Two siblings from South Kashmir’s Anantnag district are famous for their art work in the whole district while the duo has decorated dozens of shrines and other religious places so far. This artwork is not only the livelihood for them, but is giving satisfaction as well.
Nisar Ahmad Bhat (29) and Muzzafar Ahmad (25), residents of Dooru Shahabaad are associated with this art from the last one decade. The duo claimed that this art is attracting the people but the government has so far failed to take any steps to promote it in any manner.
Nisar Ahmad while talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that he has learned this art from Ghulam Ahmad Beigh of Safa Kadal Srinagar and faced a lot of problems during the learning period. He said a person should be patient enough to learn this art and nowadays the majority of the people are reluctant to learn it.
Walnut wood is best for wood carving, which is very hard to find, he said, adding that the art is dying as the government is hardly bothered to keep this art alive.
“This is pious art as it was brought here by Sufi Saints but with each passing day, this art is dying,” he said, adding that no step is being taken by the government to keep this art alive.
“Wood carving artists earn good money and it gives satisfaction of mind as most of the wood work is done on shrines, Masjids by writing verses of holy Quran,” he said.
The duo while talking to KNO demanded government to take immediate steps to preserve this art by giving training to more and more youth—(KNO)
