Weaving Kauna Grass Into Mats and Baskets
The Process of Weaving Kauna Grass, a Locally Available Grass, into Mats, and Baskets in Manipur
Dastkari Haat Samiti
Dastkari Haat Samiti
Raw Material: Collecting and Drying the Grass
The process of making kauna baskets begins with the farmer who cultivates the grass, usually along with his paddy cultivation. He harvests 2 to 3 crops a year and derives a fairly good income from its sales to basket weavers. The grass grows to a height of around 6 feet or more, and is cut when at its full height. It is dried thoroughly and sometimes even catches the warm smoke from a fire if it is spread over rafters on the ceiling. The spongy inner portion of the stem has to be completely dry to prevent mould.The grass is either kept its natural colour or dyed in bright colours to highlight the natural shade or be made into a fully coloured basket.
Kauna Grass Craft: Kauna Grass Field (2016-06-21)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Kauna grass that once grew wild in the wetlands of Imphal, is the raw material used to weave baskets for local use.
Kauna Grass Craft: Growing Kauna Grass (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Here, farmer Chandro of Langmeithet village, cultivates kauna grass alongside paddy for his client Becha Irangbom.
Kauna Grass Craft: Gathering kauna grass (2019-06-21)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Kauna grass, Cyperaceae, is often grows to a height of about 6 feet in water.
The marshy wet base allows for an abundance of fish that provide food for the farmer.
Kauna Grass Craft: Dried Kauna Grass (2019-06-20)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Kauna grass consists of a soft, spongy inside. The spongier it is, the better the quality of the basket and the comfort of a mattress or cushion.
Kauna Grass Craft: Kauna Grass dried at farmer house (2019-06-21)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Kauna grass has to be completely dry before it is woven or else the product becomes mouldy.
Farmers and weavers’ households spread it out everywhere to ensure it gets plenty of sunshine.
Kauna Grass Craft: Kauna grass drying (2019-06-21)Dastkari Haat Samiti
A farmer couple store dried kauna grass to provide to weavers.
Many establishments have slats below to roof to spread the piles of grass, ensuring air and warmth to keep them dry.
Kauna Grass Craft: Courtied of basket Weaver home (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
A weaver’s large open courtyard in Thoubal has space to dry kauna grass and grow herbs and the sacred tulsi plant that is a part of every home.
The chhatra, or prayer flags on a pole signifies the presence of a small family shrine.
Kauna Grass Craft: Girl with kauna grass bundle (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
As rain clouds gather, a young woman from a weaver’s family gathers freshly harvested grass that had been spread on the back lanes to dry.
Kauna Grass Craft: Dyed and undyed kauna grass (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
When kauna grass has fully dried it is used in its natural form or dyed to make baskets and bags.
Weaving Kauna Grass
The grass is first woven into a flat circular or oval shape, as the base of the object ,after which spokes of grass directed upwards forms the ‘warp’ which is then interwoven with the portion that can be called the weft. Mattresses and mats are woven flat without molds and are secured with jute string in auspiciously approved odd numbers.
Kauna Grass Craft: Process of Kauna grass basket making (2019-06-21)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The base or starting point of any woven piece begins with an oval or a circular pattern.
Kauna Grass Craft: Process of Kauna grass basket making (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The grass is first woven into a flat circular or oval shape, as the base of the object, after which spokes of grass directed upwards forms the ‘warp’ which is then interwoven with the portion that can be called the weft.
Kauna Grass Craft: Basket weaving process in Kauna grass (2019-06-22) by Women Income Generation CentreDastkari Haat Samiti
While weaving, simple tools are used to tease a strand of grass into place according to the pattern or texture required.
Kauna Grass Craft: Weaving a Kauna Grass Basket (2019-06-20) by RenaDastkari Haat Samiti
Normal workspaces accommodate 4 to 8 persons. They are usually women, but are occasionally trained by master weavers who are male.
Kauna Grass Craft: Weaving a Kauna Grass Basket (2019-06-20)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Lucy works at the Akhom Handicrafts unit where she is one of four women undergoing training.
Kauna Grass Craft: Process of Kauna Weaving (2019-06-20) by DevikaDastkari Haat Samiti
Weavers learn from the very beginning to weave tightly so the result is fine and firm grass that does not damage easily.
Kauna Grass Craft: Process of Kauna Weaving (2019-06-20) by DevikaDastkari Haat Samiti
A normal workspace like Akhom Handicrafts belongs to micro enterprises accommodating 4 to 8 persons.
They are usually women, but are occasionally trained by master weavers who are male. Devika’s husband, who has a state award, is one such trainer.
Kauna Grass Craft: Process of Kauna Weaving (2019-06-20) by LucyDastkari Haat Samiti
The grass is woven around the mold, starting from the bottom and moving upwards to the rim.
Kauna Grass Craft: Associated articles a kauna grass workshopDastkari Haat Samiti
Small articles are sometimes made without a mold and just a few tools
Kauna Grass Craft: Man weaving Kauna BasketDastkari Haat Samiti
Some men in the family also partake in basket weaving when there is no other job hand.
Kauna Grass Craft: Weaving kauna basketDastkari Haat Samiti
When there is a large order required within a time frame, more villagers gather in each other’s homes to share the work.
Kauna Grass Craft: Process of Kauna grass basket making (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Working is a collective activity in a rural craftsperson’s household.
Kauna Grass Craft: Weaving kauna Basket (2019-06-22) by Takhellie SundreiDastkari Haat Samiti
All members will weave, make tea for visitors, look after each other’s children and attend to other housework in well-adjusted harmony.
Kauna Grass Craft: Making a Kauna Grass stole (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
The daughter-in-law of the household is adept at basket weaving and calmly works on as her little son agitates.
Kauna Grass Craft: Detail of Kauna grass weaving pattern (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Patterns on stools, baskets and bags are preplanned and worked to suit the shape required.
Kauna Grass Craft: Wooden moulds (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Plywood or tin molds are made by village carpenters to give shape to the object being woven around it.
It also enables standardization of sizes for bulk production.
Kauna Grass Craft: Carpenter Making Mould for BasketDastkari Haat Samiti
The carpenter makes simple wooden molds for basket weaving according to the shape required by the weaver
Kauna Grass Craft: Carpenter at Mould Making workshopDastkari Haat Samiti
A village carpenter needs only a simple wooden shed and equipment to provide basket weavers with molds to shape their objects,
Kauna Grass Craft: Kauna grass workshop (2019-06-21)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Weaving As A Community
Embellishments like glitter, leather accessories or embroidery are now added to make the bags and baskets more attractive for sale to urban Indian and foreign customers. Weavers who are adept can weave at great speed, and for some portions like handles, straps or clasps both hands and toes come into service. Most weavers are creative by nature, and unskilled women who wish to generate income for their family easily learn how to make basic baskets with the malleable grass.
The most popular product among local Manipuris are the mats, mattresses and cushions which serve as furniture in a room where people do most socializing, working and eating while seated on the floor in the traditional style.
Kauna Grass Craft: Making a Kauna Grass basket (2019-06-22)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Takhelei Sundrei leads a well-organised group of villagers to weave baskets which she supplies to retailers in the cities.
Kauna Grass Craft: Kauna Grass baskets weaving Process (2019-06-22) by Women Income Generation CentreDastkari Haat Samiti
At the Women’s Income Generation Centre in Thoubal district, women work after hours to complete a special order of ornamental kauna baskets.
Kauna Grass Craft: Weaving a Kauna Grass Basket (2019-06-22) by WIGCDastkari Haat Samiti
The special order of embellished baskets uses gold foil within the weave to add glitter.
Kauna Grass Craft: Basket Making Process (2019-06-21) by Weavers of Eta Eta Kouna CraftDastkari Haat Samiti
Hands and feet work in unison to grip all parts of a strip of grass being twirled to be later twisted into handles for baskets
Kauna Grass Craft: Basket Making Process (2019-06-21) by Weavers of Eta Eta Kouna CraftDastkari Haat Samiti
Girls work while seated on the floor on kauna mats called phak as they weave the circular beginnings of a large basket like the one behind them.
Kauna Grass Craft: Basket Making Process (2019-06-21) by Weavers of Eta Eta Kouna CraftDastkari Haat Samiti
Becha Irangbom’s unit in Imphal is bright and cheerful. It has an energy exuded by those who obviously enjoy their work making innovative baskets out of kauna grass.
Kauna Grass Craft: Embroidering Flowers on a kauna basket by Eta Kouna CraftDastkari Haat Samiti
Devika is adept at embroidery at Becha’s unit in Imphal.
Kauna Grass Craft: Process of Kauna grass basket making (2019-06-21)Dastkari Haat Samiti
She decorates her bags with flowers for value addition and higher prices.
Kauna Grass Craft: Making Kauna grass bagDastkari Haat Samiti
Becha’s unit in Wanghei area of Imphal is small but its industrious young women are prolific in creating new shapes and designs in the bags and baskets.
Kauna Grass Craft: Process of weaving kauna grassDastkari Haat Samiti
The base or starting point of any woven piece begins with an oval or a circular pattern.
Kauna Grass Craft: Kauna grass weavingDastkari Haat Samiti
A semicircular purse is cleverly made out of a folded , flat, circular basket weave.
Kauna Grass Craft: Hand and Feet work on kauan grassDastkari Haat Samiti
Many crafts persons all over India who are engaged in textile or grass weaving find their feet as useful as their hands while they work.
Kauna Grass Craft: Process of Kauna grass basket making (2016-06-21)Dastkari Haat Samiti
Here a weaver braids grass to form a loop for a clasp.
Kauna Grass Craft: Tools used to work on Kauna Grass CraftsDastkari Haat Samiti
Basket weavers need very few simple instruments to assist them.
Kauna Grass Craft: Kauna Grass Carry Basket (2019-06-21) by Eta Kouna CraftDastkari Haat Samiti
Read more about Kauna grass craft here:
-Environment
-People & Products
Text: Jaya Jaitly
Photography: Subinoy Das
Artisans: Becha Chanu, Takhellie Sundrei, Moirangthem Nityai
Ground Facilitation: Ankit Kumar, Sarju
Documentary Video: Subinoy, Jaya Jaitly
Curation: Ruchira Verma
