Willow wicker is used to weave various baskets and trays, with sizes and forms varied according to the intended application. The big baskets are known as ‘Kiltu’. It is also utilized to create an exterior shell in the Kangri. This surrounds a pottery basin with smoldering coal bits. During the winter, the Kangri is worn under long robes to keep warm. Woven willow may also be used to make picnic baskets and tiffin boxes. Contemporary advances have expanded to include lampshades, tiny seats, and tables. Willow wicker items have an appealing appearance and exquisite patterns, making them popular not only in local markets but also in India and other countries.
Kangri, also known as Kangdhi or Kanger in colloquial Kashmiri usage, is an essential component of Kashmir’s sociocultural landscape. All Kashmiris, regardless of gender, creed, or age, utilize and “consider it indispensable in the cold season”. A Kashmiri saying: ‘What Laila was to Mujnoon’s heart (legendary lovers), Kanger is to a Kashmiri‘ exemplifies its cultural significance.
Kanger is an oval-shaped, deep earthenware bowl six inches wide, wrapped in a wicker frame. Two arms are raised to grasp the bowl, which is supported on the back by sturdy wicker poles. The basin is filled with lighted charcoal. A little wooden or iron spoon called Tasalan or a shoehorn is typically linked to Kanger’s handle, known as Kanij. It is mostly used in the cold nights of Chillai Kalan.

A cat seeking warmth by staying close to a traditional Kangri; (Image Courtesy: Kashmir Life)
Kindling Tradition: Unearthing the Origins of the Kangri and its Cultural Bloom in Kashmir
It is widely assumed that Kashmiris learned how to wield the kanger from Italians who were part of the Mughal rulers’ retinue and frequently visited the Valley in the summer. Braziers were manufactured in a wide range of designs and heavily adorned in Italy (where a comparable device was called a scaldino) and Spain. Historical research, however, contradicts the theory that kanger arrived in Kashmir via Italy, but it is known that it was utilized under the Mughal Empire.
Kangri has been used since before 1526, according to archival data. Sheikh Noor-u-din Wali, a revered saint sufi who lived from 1377 to 1440, saw a significant relationship between Kashmiri and Kangri. Among his most valued things was his own Charari Kangri, which was entombed with him. Kangri was first introduced to the valley by Italians in India under Mughal control, when one of the Italian missionaries, Jesuit Father, the first Wanderer, visited the region and carried many aspects of Kashmiri culture and customs back to Italy. Others claim that King Akbar’s friends introduced Kangri to the natives during his conquest of Kashmir in the early age of Sultan Yousuf Shah Chak, a famous monarch of Kashmir.

Different types of kangri; (Image Courtesy: ANI News)
In densely vegetated districts of Jammu and Kashmir, employing native grasses for basketry and matting was a natural byproduct of an agricultural and horticultural economy. Kangri is thought to be an inventive approach invented in Kashmir. It initially appears in Kalhan’s Rajatarangini (Book V, Verse 106). The lyric refers to King Avanti Varman‘s reign from A.D. 855 to 883, when Suyya, the great engineer, skilfully managed the stream of the Jhelum River. Kashmir was therefore spared severe floods for several years. Suyya kept the water out using circular dykes, giving the communities the appearance of round bowls known as Kundas. Suyya kept the water out using circular dykes, giving the communities the appearance of round bowls known as Kundas. Kundal is supposed to be derived from ‘Sha Kundala’, or rings, which are still used in Kashmir to refer to circular ceramic bowls.
In Srinagar, the first technical school was founded between 1914 and 1916. The English willow in and around the Bage-Dilawar Khan wetlands, as well as the English technique of wicker weaving, was initially introduced to the institute by its first principal, Mr. Andrews, who was an Englishman. The students began creating a lot of baskets out of willow wicker. According to Indian legend, during his rule, Maharaja Hari Singh imported some exquisite craftsmen from Europe along with 12 kg of seeds. Wild willow kinds were employed to make rough willow handicrafts in Kashmir before that time. The ideal soil and climate for the plant’s growth were found in Kashmir’s Gandharbal district.

Kashmiri kids in traditional pherans with Kangri; (Image Courtesy: Howard Sochurek)
Woven Flames: Exploring the Intricate Details of Kangri and Willow Wicker Craft
Willow is more durable and less susceptible to parasites than bamboo or cane. Because of the increased demand, the Forest and Irrigation agencies have been asked to expand willow production. The craft is reported to employ around 5000 people throughout the state. Willow wicker is locally known as Veer Kani. Wicker is the popular name for one-year sticks that arise from willow pruning. It is typically planted in cool, fertile, irrigated areas since it requires a lot of water, however, it can tolerate hard winter frost.
The Kangri is also emotionally significant to the Kashmiri people, as it is profoundly embedded in their language and culture. Numerous Kashmiri traditional songs praise the Kangri’s beauty. In weddings, a beautifully painted Kangri is frequently given to the bride when she departs from her family house. During Shivratri, a prominent Kashmiri event, married daughters visiting their maternal home are traditionally given a Kangri along with other gifts. During the first year of marriage, the bride’s in-laws fill a new and elaborate Kangri with dry fruits, money, and other presents for her in a tradition known as Shishur Lagun. A spectacular feast is also planned for this occasion. Kangris play an important role in funeral ceremonies. In Kashmir, Kangris filled with embers are dedicated to yearly remembrance rites, just like earthen pots filled with water are presented to ancestors in other places. In Kangris, ladies sing auspicious melodies while burning Harmal (Isbund) seeds at religious rituals such as Yajnopavita (a holy thread rite) and marriages.
Process of Making Kangri
However, the Kangri production method is time-consuming and labor-intensive. The entire process continues through several phases until the Kangri enters the market during the vivid, sunny autumn. It begins with gathering the twigs and preparing them to make them Kangri-ready. The clay pot, known as Kondal in the local language, houses the coals around which the weavers construct the Kangris. Kani (twigs) are often obtained from willows. Traditionally, they were found in the wild, but because of high demand, they are now grown in nurseries dedicated only to their production.
Kani cultivation, like that of other cash crops, is labor-intensive and complex. Beds are often prepared for cultivation in early spring by excavating 3-foot-deep trenches. The saplings, which range in size from 9 to 12 inches, are then planted in straight lines with a 1-1.5-foot space. The plant develops branches on all sides, which increase over time and eventually form a bush. The plant takes approximately a year to develop to around 4 feet tall before being removed from the ground, leaving just roots. The plant grows at the same site the next year, reaching an average height of 10 to 12 feet and a life span of 8 to 10 years. However, the old roots are removed permanently and utilized as firewood.
Harvested twigs are used for making kangri; (Image Courtesy: Kashmir Life)
Twigs are collected while still raw and placed in boilers to soften. The boiler is composed of iron and is 10-12 feet in length, 4 feet in width, and 4-5 feet deep. The boiler is mounted on a plinth of burnt bricks over three feet above the ground and, depending on size is filled with 50-100 gallons of water. Once the water has reached boiling temperature, 20-30 manns of twigs are added to the boiler at a time. Approximately 30-40 kilograms of firewood are burned in the process. The twigs are covered with hefty stones and left to boil for at least six hours. Following the boiling procedure, the twigs are taken from the boilers, and the skin is peeled. Peeling the twigs is a complex task. The processors designed a simple technique to remove the twig skin. The twigs are cleaned, separated, and trimmed to size according to their thinness. The thinner the twig, the higher the price.

Peeling of the twigs; (Image Courtesy: Kashmir Life)
Shallabug and its surrounding environs supply the majority of the twigs needed for Kangri weaving and other wicker arts. It is grown mostly in Ganderbal’s five villages: Shallabug, Hakeem Gund, Kujar, Harran, and Kachan. There are several willow species from which the twigs are derived. Each has its purpose. There’s Salix Alba or white willow. It is huge. It has a subspecies called Cornelia, from which cricket bats are fashioned. Then there’s Salix Tetrasperma. It is mostly used to manufacture Kangris. It depends on the stage at which these twigs are clipped to impart varied qualities.
Although Kangri weaving is done across Kashmir, particular regions have a higher number of Kangri weavers. Bandipora, Charar, and Wokai in Kulgam are commonly regarded as significant weaving places. Once the twigs are ripe, they are sold to weavers who make the Kangri. According to a Handicraft Survey on Kangri and Willow Wicket Basketry based on 1981 census data, Wokai is home to 230 households that do willow weaving. According to the research, they had adopted non-traditional artisan practices, although few members of the Shaaksaaz group had been doing so for decades. The number has increased dramatically since then, to the point that Kangri weaving has become the primary source of income for the community. Unlike many other centers, Wokai relies on wicker and Kangri weaving all year. This is their main craft.
Weaving of Kangri; (Image Courtesy: Etv Bharat)
However, before the weaver can begin weaving Kangris, he or she must first get containers for the wickerwork. Although potters make a variety of ceramics, many now focus solely on Kondal. Muzaffar, a fourth-generation potter from the ancient Gufkral hamlet in Tral, south Kashmir, specializes in producing Kondals for Kangris. Traditionally, individuals would only carry Kondal with charcoal embers during the winter. However, as design complexity increased, artists began to weave wicker over the clay jars.
The earthen part of kangri, Koundal being made by a potter; (Image Courtesy: Kashmir Life)
Artful Patterns: The Diverse Designs of the Kangri
Kangri can be easily found in various important occasions and festivities in Kashmir, such as marriages, betrothals, a child’s job search and exam qualification, work promotions, moving into a new home, or anything else that gives good fortune to the family. During such joyous occasions, seeds of pegasus hermala, rue, or Isband (in Kashmiri) are burned on the hot flames. The burning of Isband in Kanger stimulates and fills the cheerful environment with the joy of perfume. Kanger’s use is not limited to its owners. It is always supplied to visitors and others in cold weather as a warm gesture of hospitality and compassion, so that they, too, can warm themselves with the warmth of love connected with it.
Char-e-Sharief and Bandipora are two Kashmiri locations where more expensive and unique Kanger types are created. Both thrive in art and design, with their characteristically gorgeous characteristics and strength. Recognisable from all other sorts of great variants of Kanger, there is one Kanger, rather one and only Kanger, named “sheesh-dair”, a bridal Kanger, appearing glaringly cute like a bride on her wedding day. It is colourfully painted and taller than typical Kangers, woven in exquisite jali-wickerwork, with pendulous little round-shaped mirrors, wicker rings, and wicker curls on all sides save the opening, like an embellished and decorated bride with her face open. In the past, parents would send “sheesh-dair” to their newlywed daughter’s house [variv = in-laws home] as a first-winter present. However, this technique no longer appears to be popular among Kashmir’s rich strata. A tall embellished kangri packed with almonds is a customary present given to a wedded daughter before the first winter in her new home. The most treasured Chrar Kangri from Charar-e-Sharief features an exquisitely woven willow encasement and is one of three well-known kinds, along with those from Bandipora and Anantnag, each with its own unique design and durability. Then there are kangris created in various districts of Kashmir, each with its own unique durability and design.

Decorated kangri; (Image Courtesy: Onmanorama)
Some of them go by the names Willow Kangri, Safeed or Kachoo Kangri, Dabdar, and Fine Kalan. “Fine Kalan” is the monarch of all Kangris (Saki, 1985, 16). Different social strata use different types of kangri. In Kashmir, the Islamabad kangri is the most popular, with a broad base and a wide-mouthed pot. These are widely used by those who engage in outdoor activities and require a greater level of heat. They cost about Rs100. The Bandipora kangri, which costs roughly Rs200 per pot and is made of finer wicker, is commonly used by the middle strata of society. The majority of them are grown in the Bandipora region in north Kashmir, some 60 miles from Srinagar, the summer capital. The Chrar kangri is the most expensive variety, with costs ranging from Rs200 to Rs400 for a thin, ornamented pot with minute wickerwork.
There are several designs constructed from this object, and its use is limited to specific events.
- Sada Kangri is utilised by everyone to stay warm throughout the winter.
- Zaildar Kangri, Dub Dar Kangri, and Door Dar Kangri: These are exquisitely constructed Kangris presented to married women by their parents and in-laws on significant occasions such as Shlvratri.
- Shikari Kangri: This is a distinctive form of Kangri because of its large size and is utilised by boatmen.
From Tradition to Transformation: The Kangri in Contemporary Times and Its Industry’s Journey
Although wicker craft is an important element of Kashmiri culture, it has also evolved and is gaining popularity in the export market. It is possibly the only handcraft that does not face competition from machine-based manufacturing, as opposed to other handicrafts whose production has been constantly threatened by mechanical interventions. However, both dealers and weavers estimate that sales have decreased, but not to the same amount as in other crafts. Kangri can cost anything from Rs.200 to Rs.30,000, depending on the creativity, workmanship, and materials used. Kangris has had a wonderful presence in all Kashmir marketplaces from the beginning of November. The sale will only last till the beginning of spring. Kangri prices range between Rs 250 and Rs 1,500, depending on the production process and materials utilised.
Some producers are concerned that buyers are less likely to spend money on Kangri. Surprisingly, the production of kangri is linked to the ecological balance of Kashmir. Kangri manufacturing is the foundation of the economy for more than 600 households. Chrar produces around 50,000 firepots every season alone. It uses around 3500 metric tonnes per year, the majority of which is gathered from Keller, Shopian, and Lar, Ganderbal. In today’s world, where technology heating devices are available, the traditional fire pot has not only helped people remain warm, but it is also an effective and cost-effective heating option.
Image Courtesy: Daily Sabah
According to field statistics, the fabrication of various goods accounted for over 7 lakh pieces over the last several years (Kangri 3 lakh and baskets 4 lakhs), generating around As. 10 lakhs in revenue each year. Although there is no full study of kangri production at this moment, it is estimated that two million Kangris are produced annually. The massive output is thought to have hampered deciduous shrub regrowth at elevations ranging from 1200 to 2800 meters in Kashmir’s Himalayas. Estimates put the number of Kangris made each year between 10 and 12 lakh. Thousands are also fixed each year. However, for repairs, they employ Poher and Poash Kaen. Low firepot production is connected to the stuff’s endurance throughout a season. A Kangri purchased once a year will typically last two seasons, and if necessary, can be restored to endure a third season. The Tourism Department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has decided to mark ‘Pheran and Kangri Day’ on February 19 to promote Kashmiri culture.
Regardless of its benefits, incorrect use can be dangerous. There have been reports of burns and mishaps caused by unskilled users attempting to sleep with a Kangri in their duvet. It takes expertise and practice to use a Kangri safely, even in bed. Kangri cancer is a kind of skin cancer that can develop as a result of regular kanger usage. W. J. Elmslie initially researched this condition in 1866 and assumed it was caused by burns, but it is now understood to be the consequence of a carcinogenic woodcoal distillation product.
Finally, this stanza summarises the link between a Kashmiri and the Kanger, as well as its cultural significance:
- Ai kangri! ai, kangri!
- Kurban tu Hour wu Peri!
- Chun dur bughul mi girimut
- Durd az dil mi buree.
- (Oh, kangri! oh, kangri!
- You are the gift of Houris and Fairies;
- When I take you under my arm
- You drive fear from my heart.)