Mir Arshad Hussain, a skilled papier-mâché craftsman from Bota Kadal, Lal Bazar, has won the first prize and a Diploma of Honor at the 9th International Fajr Festival of Handicrafts, Sarv-e-Simin, in Tehran. He received the award from Iran’s Minister for Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri. Arshad’s winning piece, a papier-mâché wall plate blending traditional and modern Kashmiri designs, stood out among 7,000 global entries. Along with the award, he received a cash prize of ₹65,000. The festival featured exceptional handicrafts from top artisans and designers worldwide. The Iranian Culture Minister praised Arshad’s dedication and creativity, recognizing his work as a reflection of skill, passion, and commitment to artistic heritage. Mussarat Islam, Director of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, congratulated Arshad, hoping this achievement would inspire more artisans to showcase Kashmiri crafts globally. Though an IT engineer by qualification, Arshad has chosen to pursue his passion for papier-mâché and aims to promote this unique craft in international markets.
