The Scent of Pashtun in the Afghan Carpet

The first thing that strikes you about the Afghan Carpet is its hand woven floor covering demeanor. Few know the afghan rug is woven by refugees, a part of the handicrafts community in the interiors of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. The rugs exude an unknown majesty, reminiscent of quintessential Afghan tradition. Once spread on the floor of your house, they kind of drape it with a wrap that reminds one of the burqa worn by Muslim women. The Shindand and the Adraskan are typical Afghan Kilim catching the attention of buyers everywhere. They are made in West Afghanistan, human and animal prints on them symbolizing a very humane aura. The Balchi Afghan Rugs , usually the one on which Muslims offer the ‘Holy Namaaz’, are another notable Afghan carpet sensation. Made by the Bloch people in Afghanistan, they are woven typically to suit the serene ambience necessary to connect to the divine force. This rug strikes certain similarities with carpets coming in from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyztan and Kazakhstan. The Afghan Rug carries with it a legacy known to all those who pursue rugs and have a liking for them. Some of the most famous ones include the Almar Hazara Kilim Mid 20th c, Hazara Slave Kilim, Baluch Sumac, Hazara Flatwoven Mosque Rug, 8 by 14 Hazara Flatwoven Rug, 4’8” x 12’ Hazara Kilim, Hazara Labijar Kilim UKN101 etc. The typical Afghan Carpet made since the last 50 years is a wool-on-wool product, with a persistently repeated octagonal figure. In the business, it is more famously known as Dulatabad. The weaving happens on a very huge scale in Northern Afghanistan, an area from where eventually the finished pieces get exported in huge supplies. A couple of centuries back, the size of a typical Afghan Kilim was around 16 inches wide of that of the normal rug. Only now, with reduced home space, have the sizes too come down. rnThe simplicity of the typical Afghan Kilim is what appeals to you most. It comes in such simple colors, mostly in bright red and deep blue. The reason why they still sell so widely across many parts of the world is the mystic belief they exude, which helps strangers connect with Afghan tradition. rnToday most Afghans contain only two colors: a rather bright red and a blue so deep that it looks black. Still, Afghans have survived because they are basically so appealing. They are still popular with Afghan people, including the many who have emigrated to the West.rnYou sit on it in a group with people around you and you go back in times when food was eaten on the floor, ‘wine’ being served through kettles. Add to the décor lamps, and you have an ambience you never forget in a long time.