NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the revival of Kashmir's traditional 'Vaghu' mat, describing the centuries-old, eco-friendly craft as a unique cultural symbol of the Valley and hailing the efforts taken to revive it.
Addressing the 136th episode of his monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', the Prime Minister said, "When one possesses both talent and the passion to achieve something, every path becomes easy. A glimpse of that is evident in the efforts currently being made regarding Kashmir's traditional 'Vaghu' mat."
He noted that the tradition of making this mat dates back many years and is crafted out of reeds and paddy straw. He explained that the process starts with harvesting grass and reeds from the marshy regions of Kashmir. After drying the materials in the sun and sorting them, the hand-weaving process begins.
PM Modi said that it takes approximately four days for two artisans to complete a single mat.
"This mat is both unique and eco-friendly. A major feature is that it provides coolness in the summer and warmth in the winter. While it used to be found in every Kashmiri household, its usage had declined over the last few years," he said.
The Prime Minister commended a father-daughter team from Srinagar for their commitment to reviving this traditional craft.
"Amidst that, Ghulam Hussain ji from Srinagar and his daughter, Tanzila ji, took a pledge. Both dedicated themselves to reviving the tradition of the 'Vaghu' craft. Ghulam Hussain ji comes from a very humble background. He faced numerous challenges in this endeavour. However, his resolve to preserve 'Vaghu' remained unflinched. And within no time, many people began joining this initiative," he said.
He added that Ghulam Hussain "significantly advanced this craft" and also received local government support for his mission.
"Today, 'Vaghu' is rapidly gaining popularity and reaching other parts of the country. I am immensely proud of everyone associated with this effort. Today, we are all emphasising local products; we are moving forward with the mantra of 'Vocal for Local'. In this context, do consider making Kashmir's 'Vaghu' a part of your home as well," PM Modi added.
