Grass Mat ~ 26

 

This contemporary collection comprises basket weaving traditions from different districts of Odisha- Mayurbhanj, Balasore located in Nothern Odisha and Jagatsingpur in eastern Odisha. Traditionally various form of basket were used in mundane life. The natural fibres such as cane, bamboo, kaincha (golden grass), khajuri patra (date palm leaf), sabai grass are sourced from the forest and paddy fields. Some of these are seasonally collected such as golden grass and sabai grass during the monsoon season. These are manually collected from the forest by several communities. Usually Dom and Pana castes are expert at making bamboo and cane baskets.  Traditional baskets include large size storage for storing rice, dowry boxes, fish trap, bird cage, floor mat, ornamentation, strainer and many varieties of storage items.

 

 

Traditionally, local systems sustained several such communities based on basket weaving practice. Villagers were interdependent on each other for livelihood and sustenance. Dom and Panna caste sustained their family by proving basket work to villagers and also by selling in the local haat bazaar. With the intrusion of other materials in the market, basket weaving tradition is slowly languishing and this local tradition may fade if it is not recreated and celebrated. Local trades and communities may disappear in some years. 

 

 

A collection of sabai grass, date palm leaf and golden grass is a collective effort from Balasore district to create a sustainable livelihood for flood affected dalit women from Balasore district. 

 

Contemporary sabai grass mat are braided by putting together fibre by hand and stitched around a circular frame by women from Balasore district. 

 

 

Date Palm leaf-Sabai grass mats are wrapped with date palm leaf by hand. It is coiled together in circular direction and oval shape mat from Balasore district. The edges are raised for set of baskets and waste bin. 

 

Chala: A form of conical bamboo basket from Northern Odisha- Mayurbhanj district. It is traditionally used by women as a strainer to remove starch from the boiled rice and also to clean green leafy vegetables. For the contemporary use it can be used as a decor or for storage. It can also be used like lamp with light lit from inside-radiating weaving patterns beautifully in the dark room.

 

 

Dala: a basic and most common form of bamboo basket from Northern Odisha- Mayurbhanj district used by people traditionally in their houses for storage purposes.  For the contemporary use it can be used as natural craft product for storage.

 

Kaincha: Golden Grass mat is made in Jagatsingpur district by women and are durable for daily use.