Willow wicker craft, known locally as 'kaeni keam' is the intricate art of basket weaving in Kashmir in northern India.

It is an indigenous industry in the region and one of the oldest crafts of Kashmir valley. But its products, once seen in every home, are now witnessing a decline.

The craft is also known as shaakhsaazi. The word “shaakhsaazi” comprises of two words, “shaak” meaning slender pliable branches and “saazi” meaning the act of weaving.

The journey from raw wicker prunes to decorous creations is a very interesting one, that starts with harvesting the willow twigs.

These twigs are then grouped according to the required length and breadth, called “withe" -- a strong flexible willow stem which is boiled and then peeled. Withies are used as raw materials for manufacturing different willow products.

Several products are made from wicker, including tokris, dry-fruit bowls, round cups, decorative ducks, buckets, chapatis, kangris, etc.

Willow plants grow up to three metres in height and the crop is harvested in October.

Willow wicker craft locally called “kaeni keam” is the intricate art of basket weaving. It is an indigenous business industry of Kashmir using twigs of wicker as raw material. It is one of the oldest crafts of valley. The products of the craft, once seen in every home, are now witnessing a decline.

This craft is also known as Shaakhsaazi. The word “Shaakhsaazi” comprises of two words, “shaak” meaning slender pliable branches and “Saazi” meaning the act of weaving. The journey from raw wicker prunes to decorous creations is a very interesting one.

The journey starts from harvesting the willow twigs. These twigs are then grouped according to the required length and breadth called “withe.” Withe is a strong flexible willow stem which is boiled and peeled subsequently. Withies are used as raw materials for manufacturing different willow products.

A special apparatus Zelan is used to peel off the bark from boiled withies. Zelan is the pair of 3 ft long sticks bound together tightly. Then they are tied into bundles and sold to workers as raw material. Several products are made from Wicker. The main wicker willow handicrafts are tokris, dry-fruit bowls, round cups, decorative ducks, buckets, chapatis, kangris, etc.

Wicker willows are found in wetlands as well as in rice fields. Farmers in Ganderbal cultivate this species in rice fields for commercial purposes. They cultivate willow plants from saplings. When saplings begin to sprout, they are then planted into the land to harvest its shoots every year. The best season for sowing of saplings is February to March. Usually, Willow plants grow upto 2-3 metres in height and the crop is harvested in October.