View onto Shankaracharya Temple (Srinagar)
This view is from the Hassanbad area of Srinagar, where Fayaz Jan, the craftsman Soi has worked with since 2014, is based. The artisans that reside here belong largely to the Shia community that clusters around the Hassanabad Imambara, where they pray, an important Shia site that dates to the late 19th century. It is located to the northeast of Srinagar, adjacent to the Hazratbal road that connects the city to the Hazratbal Shrine.
Over the years, Soi has walked in the area behind the Imambara, often resting at the ghat, upon the stairs that lead down to the canal. Through most of the year, this area remains secluded and quiet. In summer, a natural spring nearby becomes a small pool for the local children, who splash around within its bricked circular basin.
Gradually, this landscape became familiar to him. It represented an entanglement with the area, its society, and its history. The area is home to Shia craftsmen that paint motifs typical of the region upon papier-mâché objects that are ubiquitous within the craft industry of Kashmir. These motifs and papier-mâché material themselves can be traced back to Central Asia and Iran. Sufi preachers, such as Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani (1312–1385 CE), spread these techniques as they passed through the region, preaching in the belief that keeping one’s hands busy kept one closer to God.
To the far right of this view, a speck on a hill is the Shankaracharya temple, one of the oldest temples in Srinagar dedicated to Shiva. Kashmiri Shaivism dates back centuries, originating in around 800 AD. Buddhism dates back even further.
