Kashmiri Pashmina Shawl

Why in news?

• Kashmir’s famed pashmina shawls, known for centuries for their signature intricate buta or paisley patterns, got a French touch.
• The transformation, where Kashmiri shawls were adorned with abstract paintings rather than intricate embroidery, has re-introduced the fabric with new-age aesthetics

About Kashmiri Pashmina Shawl:

• Pashmina is one of the finest and highest quality wool in the whole world.
• It has GI tag, and has its origin from Kashmir region.
• Originally Kashmiri people used Pashmina shawls to keep themselves warm during the winter season.
• The term 'Pashmina' has been derived from a Persian word “Pashm” meaning a weavable fiber precisely wool.
• Pashmina Shawls are very costly due to their fine quality of wool and the hard work involved in making one single piece.
• It generally takes around 72 hours or more to complete one shawl.

Source:

• The wool that is used in weaving the Pashmina Shawl is obtained from the Changthangi goats (Capra Hircus) domesticated in Ladakh by the Changpa tribes.
• The Changpa are semi-nomadic community which inhabit Changthang (which is spread across Ladakh and Tibet Autonomous Region) or other regions of Ladakh.
• The Changpa were classified as a Scheduled Tribe under the Indian Government's affirmative action reservation program.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Changthangi goat, the species from which raw material for Pashmina Shawl is obtained are mainly found in:

(a) Ladakh

(b) Nilgiri

(c) Thar Desert

(d) Chota Nagpur Plateau

Answer