Sabai grass handicrafts
The Sabai Grass art is as old as time itself and has been an integral part of the culture of the provinces of West Bengal and Odisha. In West Bengal this type of grass can be found in abundance in forest areas of Paschim Medinipur, Purulia amd Bankura districts. In Odisha, Mayurbhanj district is known for its exquisite Sabai Grass handicraft products. The botanical name of Sabai Grass is Eulaliopsis banana is a type of tufted perennial grass in which the leaves are basal in general; locally known as Babui Ghash or Bhabar Ghas in Hindi, they grow in the wild and are quite erect and rigid in nature. They are effortless to work with and can be dyed easily too. For those who’re unaware, Sabai Grass is used as a major raw material and comes 2nd after bamboo for making paper pulp in India. They are widely used in making ropes and in the present times are also used to manufacture home décor and utility products.
OUR UNIQUE OFFERINGS OF TRADITIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE ARTISTRY
This art has a tremendous involvement of the womenfolk of these regions and who are the key contributors in the cultivation and production of Sabai Grass products. A sizeable population of womenfolk in villages of these provinces are engaged in the cultivation, processing and manufacturing of products made of Sabai Grass. The women artisans collect this grass and thrash them on the ground; this process renders the grass soft and flexible making them more manageable for twisting and twining. Afterwards they soak the grass and wash them. Then they let the grass dry in the sun. Once the grass gets completely dried, they are twisted in bundles to make ropes. These ropes are sold in the local village markets. The craftswomen also make diversified products with Sabai Grass and sell them to earn a living. They twist the Sabai Grass to use leaves of dry palm leaves for binding; our craftswomen also take the help of frames to give a proper shape to their products. Beautiful and elegant mats, coasters, trays, flower vase, planters, laundry baskets, storage baskets with lid, lamp shades, small bags, wall hangings, multicoloured storage boxes are crafted by our local artists that has a feel of ethnicity and showcase their adroitness.
They have even gone to the extent of handcrafting cots and sofa sets out of Sabai Grass that are truly astounding! Since Sabai Grass can be dyed easily, our artists dye them using natural dyes to give a flamboyant look to their creations; at times Azo-free dyes are also used that are eco-friendly and are not harmful for humans as they don’t contain harmful compounds like nitrogen or bleach. For dyeing, firstly colour is mixed in the required quantity in boiling water, once the colour dissolves completely in water, the bunches of grass are soaked in it and later dried in the sun. Around 4000 of such artists are associated with the manufacturing of Sabai Grass handicrafts.
This has created new opportunities for income for them and has helped them become self-sufficient and self-reliant. Our women artists now feel more empowered and their families acknowledge their valuable contribution towards the betterment of their financial conditions.
A lot of involvement, hard work and dedication are required in producing these beautiful artistic products which are gaining in popularity day by day at home as well as overseas. Our women artists take active initiative in attending various training programmes organized by the state and the central government agencies and also display their incredible artworks in various fairs and festivals held at the local, national and global levels. Being a natural fibre, Sabai Grass is environmentally sustainable and is a bio-degradable making them an ideal choice for those who care for the well being of our beloved planet and prefer leading a green way of living. These handcrafted products are time tested and are known for their endurance. They can be used in whichever way you feel like, at home, in your home office, in eateries, boulangeries or restaurants, they feel at home in any ambience. Make an entry in the world of naturally made products and make them a part of your daily life; decorate your interiors with Sabai Grass decorative items or gift them to your loved ones for creating more awareness about these sublime gifts that Mother Earth has endowed us with.
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