Namda is a type of traditional Kashmiri carpet made from sheep wool. It is a felted carpet that features hand embroidered patterns in colored threads. It is reported to have originated in the 11th century when Mughal Emperor Akbar ordered the making of suitable covering for his horse for protection from the cold.
In Kashmiri life, a namda is layered atop the gabba, an everyday rug made of old blankets, and both items are an integral part of every household. There is no weaving involved in making a namda; instead, there is a whole lot of entangling, washing, pressurising, and embroidering.
Namdha - A hand made felt rug that makes excellent floor covering, made of unspun wool or wool and cotton pressed and felted in specific proportions, the rug originally came from Yarkand, Sinkiang and stayed to become an indigenous craft. The felt is embroidered with a hook in bold designs and assortment of colours.
Namda is usually a sandwich of many layers of wool flattened over each other. After a layer is spread, it is sprinkled homogeneously with water and pressed with a tool known as 'pinjra' (woven willow wicker).
The technique of making a namda involves beating and fluffing the wool fibres with a wicker punja (comb) and then layering, matting and flattening. A minimum of three layers are prepared and each layer is spread separately, sprinkled with soapy water and pressed with a pinjra tool to enmesh and interlock the fibres.
Namda making is a household craft practised primarily by the Muslim community and passed on from one generation to another. In Kashmir, namdas are used as mattresses and floor coverings as they are warm and cater to extreme cold weather conditions. It has become a part-time activity now. It was listed as an 'Identifiable endangered craft of India' .
(This blogpost is a part of Blogchatter's #BLOGCHATTERA2Z2023)
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