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Kashmiri artisan Rafiq Ahmed Sofi displays an intricately designed, hand-knotted carpet featuring Arabic calligraphy and floral patterns, at his workshop, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Burhaan Kinu
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Kashmiri artisan Rafiq Ahmed Sofi works on a hand-knotted carpet, at his workshop, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Burhaan Kinu
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A bundle of 'talims', coded instructions specifying the colours to be used and the number of knots to be made while weaving a carpet, lies along with a printout of the carpet design, at Kashmiri artisan Rafiq Ahmed Sofi's workshop, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Burhaan Kinu
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An elderly artisan spins thread using a traditional wooden yarn winder, at Kashmiri artisan Rafiq Ahmed Sofi's workshop, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Burhaan Kinu
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Kashmiri artisan Rafiq Ahmed Sofi reads a 'talim', a coded set of instructions specifying the colours to be used and the number of knots to be made while weaving a carpet, at his workshop, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Burhaan Kinu
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Kashmiri artisan Rafiq Ahmed Sofi stands outside his workshop, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Burhaan Kinu
