THE LONG AND WINDING <I>SILK ROAD</I> - 2002-06-17

Washington Post Staff Write - Folklife Festival on the Mall: The Smithsonian badly wanted Indian woodworker Aash Mohammed. His skill with bamboo was exactly what was needed for the elegant towers, arches and plazas at the heart of the festival. When reached at his shop in Ghaziabad, he immediately said yes. But there was a problem. The 22-year-old artisan was born at home; he had no birth certificate. That meant it would take two months to get a passport and visa, even after he had documentation of his birth. The festival organizers couldn't wait that long..