In a bid to keep the heritage of wooden ceiling art or 'Khatamband' alive in Jammu and Kashmir, a young entrepreneur has revived it by using polystyrene.
'Khatamband' is an art in which small pieces of wood are fitted into each other in patterns to form the ceiling. The process is hand crafted and without using nails.
Small floral or geometrical squares are fitted through tiny grooves and the entire structure then is fitted on the ceiling.
However, now the art is slowly dying, and entrepreneur Yaseen Yousuf Khan has taken up its revival, using polystyrene and machines instead of wood. He said the art is time consuming.
"There is heritage concept of 'Khatambandh' ceiling. We thought of keeping the tradition alive by using plastic (polystyrene) because the art is dying. The art is limited here," said Khan.
Khan explored ways to save the heritage and discovered that with the help polystyrene the ancient craft can be protected. He also aimed at generating employment for the people of Kashmir.
It is believed that Khatamband was brought to Kashmir by a saint, who visited the valley along with many followers. These artisans passed on this art to local Kashmiris.
Khatamband was used in domes of palaces, houseboats and royal houses.
Polystyrene is a synthetic polymer which can be solid or foamed.
