{Part X Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Srinagar, J & K Silk & Wool Rugs - Pashminas}

Showing you some of the beautiful crafts that do come from this part of the world. Right in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir State of India, husband Pieter did observe the making of those famous Silk & Wool Rugs, also the tedious embroidery of Pashminas, woven from the finest cashmere fibre. Pashmina is derived from the Persian Pašmina, meaning made from wool. This wool comes from the Pashmina goats that live at the high altitudes of the Himalayas.

Young boys weaving the very fine silk rugs...

Keep in mind that they almost work in the dark; husband Pieter used his flash!

The older brother in the front, does have the age old pattern in front of him and he is chanting it so his younger brother can follow him.

Eye sight deteriorates quickly and from the finer silk weaving they than have to shift to the coarser wool...

Two brothers working on a silk rug...

Don't know what the blue blob is on the boy's face; must be from the flash light.

A male teacher, as pointed out by Pieter's friend Dr. Parimoo (his hand...) is teaching this group of women how to embroider cashmere wool Pashminas.

On the bridge in Srinagar, J & K State, you can see a very colorful array of crafts, lots of hand knitting and such.

The lady walking to the right is wearing a beautiful Pashmina...

Life sure is colorful but by far not wealthy!

There was a request on June 25, 1983 for a World Bank assisted project for Jammu & Kashmir State in India.

A Telegram from June 27, 1983
But Campbell's Soup Company would not allow such a function...
Sadly, husband Pieter had to let go because we started working for Campbell's Mushroom Division in the USA!

Dachshund Mauzie is seen to the left near the wood edging...
In the mid 80s I have imported lots of handmade craft from Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India with the help of Pieter's friend Dr. Parimoo.

The freight was always a big issue as it was quite expensive and not living in a cosmopolitan area here in central Georgia was also difficult for reaching the proper clientele.

Now with Internet and e-commerce that would have worked better.

Such cashmere Pashminas are so light and oh so warm; pure luxury!

People in Srinagar were really great artists and these Bells from Chinar wood (Platanus orientalis, or oriental plane) and Papier Mâché items are all hand made and hand painted, than lacquered. Also those bangles.

Little bowls with brass inserts...
All came from NEW JAN KHAN & CO - Srinagar, J & K - India (just click the link to their FB Page.

But look how it often arrived at our home...

Cut open by the US customs, looking for drugs inside and thus ruined for sale!

I really did try hard for helping at least some of those poor people!

Related links:
{Part IX of Trip to India - Lal Mandi Srinagar, J & K People - Living} | previous post by me
{Part VIII of Trip to India - Lal Mandi Srinagar, J & K State - Mushroom Village) | previous post by me
{Part VII of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir} | previous post by me
{Part VI of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Shimla, Himachal Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part V of Trip to India - Chail Himachal Pradesh & Highest Cricket Ground in the World} | previous post by me
{Part IV of Husband Pieter's Trip to India -  Solan, Himachal Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part III of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Maharaja Amarinder Singh, Patiala Punjab} | previous post by me
{Part II of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part I of Husband Pieter's Trip to India  - Arrival in New Delhi} | previous post by me
{The Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus - Husband Pieter's Trip to India} | previous post by me

{Part IX of Trip to India - Lal Mandi Srinagar, J & K People - Living}

Thank you for following along for reading these chapters about husband Pieter's trip to India, following the Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus. 

Previous chapters can be found below this post. Now we are having a peak at Lal Mandi in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir State how People actually are LIVING.

A dreary day in a very muddy area...

Not easy to exist in this part of the world...

J & K State, short for Jammu & Kashmir is at the very top, bordering Tibet (China), Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Not looking very glamorous... on this day in March!

Woolens are the fabrics, worn by the people for staying warm!

For sure H.R.H. Prince Claus meant to help these people through the Dutch Development Program he initiated...

Struggling hard for making a living and under such harsh conditions...

No need for adding another wing to the University in Delhi about more research on mushroom growing.

These people need some basics!

There is so much unemployment...

Doing dishes at the only village spout...

Still, those women wear a beautiful smile; despite all the hardships...

Grinding their own corn or whatever...

Storing rice, cereals and such...

Yes, these are the homes, they are living in...

A smiling woman on the balcony, peeling something...

A family posing in front of their new home...

Imagine being barefooted in such climate...

A peek inside the home of the most important village man; kind of a mayor...

He has a rug on the floor!
He did invite my husband Pieter for a tea and assuring him that the water had been boiled appropriately...

Not much luxury in such a home as it merely functions as a shelter!

Grandpa was a little upset for taking a picture of the bedroom...

You obviously are not that lucky if you are born in that part of the world!

This is their kitchen; no chimney but just a hole in the wall...

Guess after viewing such LIVING conditions, it makes us all guilty for complaining or ever wanting more with all our luxury!

“One must be poor to know the luxury of giving.” ̶  George Eliot

Related links:
{Part VIII of Trip to India - Lal Mandi Srinagar, J & K State - Mushroom Village) | previous post by me
{Part VII of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir} | previous post by me
{Part VI of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Shimla, Himachal Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part V of Trip to India - Chail Himachal Pradesh & Highest Cricket Ground in the World} | previous post by me
{Part IV of Husband Pieter's Trip to India -  Solan, Himachal Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part III of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Maharaja Amarinder Singh, Patiala Punjab} | previous post by me
{Part II of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part I of Husband Pieter's Trip to India  - Arrival in New Delhi} | previous post by me
{The Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus - Husband Pieter's Trip to India} | previous post by me

{Part VIII of Trip to India - Lal Mandi Srinagar, J & K State - Mushroom Village}

Finally the main destination has been reached; all the way to Jammu & Kashmir State to Lal Mandi, Srinagar's Mushroom Village.

The late Dr. Agha with cap to the left, husband Pieter, Coen van Beuningen from The Netherlands and Dr. Parimoo, Pieter's long time friend.

Rain has left wet spots on the fields... The ever present snow capped Himalayan Mountains in the back.

Flooding caused holes...

Mushroomfarms Village it reads...

Men are NOT pregnant in Jammu & Kashmir State but I will explain that in a later chapter!

Husband Pieter entering the Mushroom Demonstration Cum Training Centre

Department of Agriculture Lal Mandi Srinagar...

Mushroom Cultivation

Dr. Parimoo left and the late Dr. Agha on the right...

It feels so miserable and cold... Dr. Parimoo again to the right.

In the mud, instead of on a concrete slab, they have to make their compost...

Heart breaking to see how other people often have to fight for making a living...

Here is the compost rick and it will be filled into those wooden trays...

This is how they have to store their casing soil...

Husband Pieter suggests that this could be THE perfect spot for building a concrete compost slab under a roof, with the help from the Dutch Government's Development Aid money...
BUT it never happened in real time because of frictions between Hindu and Muslim powers!

This is one of a few water spouts available...

Dr Parimoo is leading the way towards some Mushroom Growing rooms...
Women washing their dishes at the communal water spout.

Dr. Parimoo inside a growing room.
News Papers are used for covering the compost during spawn run...

Without running water it is nearly impossible for hosing down the floors and keeping hygiene levels high; as needed.

In the end, some mushrooms do grow but it is a very slow process...

Spawn run, under News Papers.

This is the grower that was seen earlier walking in the street...
It is all such a primitive sight and than again back to thinking that part of the Dutch delegation was in favor of adding a wing to the University in Delhi; for mushroom research. Gee, these poor souls need some basic help and no scientific publications that often only serves as self promotion!

 Another Mushroom Grower asks husband Pieter: 'How does the mycelium growth look?'
Well, the answer was that most likely it was NOT going to yield anything.
He broke down in tears and was granted some money to try again.
Tough for Pieter to be fair in his answers...

YES, this is also their home; they sleep here too and with their body heat they try to reach the optimum growing conditions for the mushroom mycelium to grow.
They all look so desperate at the expert, my husband Pieter... How is it?
This grower has been using a kind of an oil drum for creating some heat...

To the left you see the trays with compost stacked for Mushroom Growing and here in the straw the family sleeps... No windows; just wooden planks.
No electricity, no water and no heating...

This gentleman would become the next kind of mayor or leader, with his wife.
She is barefoot and one can only imagine how that feels!
Hope this did give you some insight as to what Pieter did experience there.
Next chapter we will show you more about this Mushroom Village's People!

Related links:
{Part VII of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir} | previous post by me
{Part VI of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Shimla, Himachal Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part V of Trip to India - Chail, Himachal Pradesh & Highest Cricket Ground in the World} | previous post by me
{Part IV of Husband Pieter's Trip to India -  Solan, Himachal Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part III of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Maharaja Amarinder Singh, Patiala Punjab} | previous post by me
{Part II of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh} | previous post by me
{Part I of Husband Pieter's Trip to India  - Arrival in New Delhi} | previous post by me
{The Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus - Husband Pieter's Trip to India} | previous post by me