Gifts become more special when they have been refined by hand. When someone makes something with love, dedication, and hard work, its value cannot be measured. One such gift is prepared in the plains of Kashmir. “Ḍūn kul,” a highly ornamental and delicate craft from Jammu and Kashmir, is carved on walnut wood. Kashmir is one of the few places in the world where even today, walnut trees are found at an altitude of 5500-7500 feet above sea level. A walnut tree is only cut until it reaches a certain age of 300 years. Then, wood from the roots, trunk, and branches can be used for carving. Even today, such buildings, temples, and tombs are alive in Kashmir on which these carvings have been beautifully engraved. Noor-Ud-Din-Wali, Naqshband Mosque, and Temple of Nand Rishi in Charar-i-Sharif are among them. Earlier, this art was limited to the palaces, but with time hundreds of artists learned it, and this art continued to grow from generation to generation. There are three sub-categories in this art of Walnut wood carving. In carpentry, carving, and polishing, an artisan working in a factory must have one of these three skills he learns during training. A carver needs to have a deep understanding of tools, as well as an experience with pressure and grip of hands. At the same time, a carpenter must know scientific signifiers such as magnetic tape, pen, pencil, and manual and electric machines to mark. With time, the number of artists associated with this art is decreasing in Kashmir, making it difficult for the existing artist to meet the customers’ demands. If there is a shortage of artists like this, then one day, this art of Kashmir will disappear.
