JOIN USGrass has been used around the world since centuries to craft items for daily need. India has a rich legacy of using natural fibres for functional purposes. Despite today’s times when synthetic yarn has invaded the market, and the demand for grass items has seen a decline, the production, thankfully, hasn’t got wiped out. Rural India still largely utilises items prepared from grass for everyday use while urban people use the same for decorative purposes. This latter trend has led to improved techniques being employed in production, and a host of new designs hitting the market.
The Indian landscape, a vibrant mix of tropical and temperate vegetation, is replete with a variety of natural fibres that can be woven into aesthetic items of display and use, with even the most complex of patterns requiring nothing more than a needle, blade and a small wooden hammer. While bamboo and cane are the most popular choices amongst natural fibres, the climate of the country ensures there is a huge number of other wild grasses that can be artistically used. We pick a few that grow around you and get crafted into beautiful objects, some of which may be sitting on your shelves at home:
Sarkanda and moonj
Sarkanda or sweet cane can be seen growing in any empty dry tract of land in northern India. It’s harvested when it dries up in winter and forms sturdy hay-coloured stalks. These are used to make the frame of hugely comfortable moodahs and chairs. The top half of the stalk is softer and leafier and is locally called moonj, which is moulded into colourful baskets and boxes of many shapes. This skill can be seen across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Despite the art of creating an object from grass being almost the same everywhere, the designs of each state are distinct, and that’s what lends beauty to the craft.
Korai
Korai or kora is a wetland grass largely found in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is used to make chatai or floor mats and table mats. To make it usable, the stems are cut and sun-dried. Interestingly, on drying up, they take a tube form making the ribbed mats very soft to sit on. These are woven on looms with a combination of natural and coloured stems which form appealing patterns. Korai is not the only grass used in making chatais. Almost each state of India boasts of a mat-making tradition. Among them, the ones that stand out are Manipur’s kauna reed mat, Bengal’s madurkathi, sitalpati and the tileng mat of Meghalaya.
Kaincha and sikki
If you were to ask someone if they knew what vetiver is, in all probability you will get a blank look. But question them on khus and immediately the eyes will shine bright in recognition of vetiver’s more well-known name. But it’s not just the root which is widely used, the stalks are quite remarkable too. The grass goes by the name of kaincha in Odisha and sikki in Bihar. It’s also referred to as golden grass owing to its colour and the smooth, shiny texture. Found in marshy areas, this grows to a height between five to seven inches.
After collection, the leaf sheath and flowering stalks are removed, and the dainty stems are slit into strips and dried in the sun. Upon drying, they get a golden glow. Grass strips are neatly coiled to make the base, and then slowly the design takes form. In Odisha, kaincha artisans are based around Kendrapara while the sikki grass craftpersons of Bihar hail from Madhubani district. While Odisha usually uses the grass in its natural shade, in Bihar the sikki is dyed in vibrant colours.
Hyacinth
Paanimeteka or water hyacinth used to be a bothersome weed for people in rural Assam. That is till craft organisations experimented with its stem. Today, it is a great revenue generator for the state with women artisans employed in large numbers to craft bags, purses, hats, mats, lampshades and more from it. The stem of the water hyacinth is dried and coiled into ropes after which it is twisted and turned into a design of choice.
Besides the grass types mentioned above, there is a wide range of natural fibres too: hemp, used to craft pullans (shoe) in Himachal Pradesh, palmyra that goes into the making of Chettinad baskets, sisal from Central India, the very versatile coconut, jute, banana fibre, sabai etc. The willow baskets of Kashmir and kodur grass craft of Jammu are other shining examples.
With wetlands and ponds shrinking due to rapid urbanisation, the procurement of raw material is being affected. As these grasses become scarce and costly, it’s forcing artisans to look at other avenues of income. The use of natural material and method in production of natural fibre articles helps reduce carbon footprint as it makes the process of manufacturing eco-friendly. Indian artisans have ensured they have contributed their bit in sustainable living; as a consumer, it is your turn to keep their effort alive and make certain you play a part in protecting the environment you live in.