Selling Mats at the Weekly Village Market
A walk through Midnapore's humble marketplace, that has been supporting its village craftsmen make a living from their craft
Dastkari Haat Samiti
Dastkari Haat Samiti
Haat of Midnapore
Many of the objects of daily use are made from materials found locally with functions specific to local use. The weekly village market or Haat is a vital institution in the local economy. From fresh vegetables and fish, to locally produced wares, to merchandise brought in by traders from the town, it is the sole arena for trade for a number of villages in a certain radius. The Haat is open to one and all. The seller of baskets, of different kinds of mats, and even of grass, all have their place in the Haat. Business is conducted in sheds with tin roofs, or out in the open.
Mat weaving: Nearby markets (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
For mat weavers, the village market is the sole platform to sell, as it is for many villages within a certain radius.
Mat weaving: Ready to be sold (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
For the locally produced grass mat, the village market is the first port of call outside of the weaver’s home or his workshop.
Mat weaving: Ready to be sold (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Sellers of baskets, of different kinds of mats, and even of grass – all of them find a spot in this market.
Mat weaving: Ready to be sold (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The Haat is the local name for a shanty market. It is open to everyone. The individual weaver brings his mats as a head-load or on the back of a bicycle.
Mat weaving: Negotiation between weaver and buyer (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The market also has larger suppliers, whose wares are ferried to the market in larger numbers, and who negotiate bigger deals.
Mat weaving: display (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Business is conducted in sheds with tin roofs, or out in the open. Sometimes a plastic sheet is used as protection from the wet ground beneath.
Mat weaving: display (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Mats for sale at the market.
Mat weaving: In search for a market (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The weekly village market, or the Haat, is a vital institution in the local economy.
Mat weaving: Grass to be sold (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
While some weavers collect their own grass from the fields, others buy their raw material from the grass seller at the weekly market.
Mat weaving: Household weaving practice (2017)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Read more about Mat Weaving here:
- Mat Weavers of West Midnapore
- The Process
Text: Aloka Hiremath, Jaya Jaitly
Photography: Chirodeep Chaudhuri
Artisans: Akhila Jana and fellow weavers
Ground Facilitator: Ankit Kumar
Curation: Aradhana Nagpal
