Sitalpati Mats
In India, mat weaving is an art that has been in practice for centuries. Our traditional texts like the Vedas and Upanishads have the mention of Rishi or sages who used Kushasana or a mat that’s woven with a type of grass. Sital Pati is one of the finest and unique handicraft products of Rural Bengal. It is an integral part of the handicrafts that are produced in the eastern provinces of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura and exhibits the artistic acumen and craftsmanship of the artists of this region. It is woven from green cane slips that are locally known as mutra (Maranta Dichotoma); this type of cane is produced in abundance in this part of the world. There might be a possibility that the word mutra is derived from the Bengali word mukta meaning pearl due to the resemblance of its seed with pearls. The stems of these canes are used to make Sital Pati mats. After harvest, these cane slips are soaked in water and then they’re sliced lengthwise into very fine strips. This process of slicing them is called holui. Sital Pati making process requires the cane slips to be soaked in rice water for a day and then the same rice water is used to boil them.
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They are then washed in water and laid out in the sun for drying. After they dry, they are left outside in the open throughout the night. The dew that forms on them overnight helps in improving their quality and makes them even smoother in texture. Another process of preparing the cane slips is to soak them in water for 6 to 7 hours only and the process of boiling them is not carried out. Next comes weaving which is done mainly by the womenfolk, and the technique they use for weaving is called Muri Bandha. The artists use both straight and diagonal patterns and create beautiful geometric patterns with the help of white slips (sada sital) and red slips (lal sital). The diagonal weaving pattern is considered more complicated compared to the straight ones; the craftsmen come up with intricate motifs of animals, birds, fishes as well as religious symbols, e.g. Pitcher of Goddess Lakshmi. Nowadays Sital Pati with intricate designs or Bhushnai are getting rarer and rarer day by day as exceptionally fine cane slips are needed to conceive them.
In general the artists use natural and vegetable dyes for dyeing their creations. During the present times they have also started using Azo-free dyes that adding a touch of vivacity to their masterworks. The pièce de résistance is undoubtedly their genius to create such phenomenal heirloom chef-d’œuvre that has earned the admiration of connoisseurs the world over! This handicraft product involves the entire family and is meant for everyday use. Our country always had a tradition of making utilitarian articles with raw materials that can be procured naturally and are readily available locally. This shows that for centuries the Indian society has habitually been nature-centric and has an intimate bond with Mother Nature. The word Sital in the Bengali language means cool and Pati means mat. Sital Pati is mainly used for sitting, resting or sleeping. When sat or slept on it an authentic Sital Pati would make a person feel cool and relaxed. The quality of the Pati can be determined by its smoothness, glossiness and its thickness.
Due to their cool nature they are also used as decoration for hanging on doors and windows during summers. It’s worth mentioning that Sital Pati come in various types based on their quality. These are Chotar Pati, Mota Pati, Shital Pati and Seddo Pati. Apart from quality, quantity, textures, weaving patterns etc are the reasons behind the differences among the Sital Pati. Among all types of Pati, the most valuable is the Sital Pati and the cheapest one is called Buka Pati. Shital Pati is is considered the best of all varieties because of its supreme quality and the thickness of bark which is used to weave it. It is much more flexible than the other varieties. It is the most sought-after variety due to its smoothness and glossy texture. Shital Pati is whitish in colour and thinnest among all its peers. Cooch Behar, located in northern part of the province of West Bengal is the most renowned centre for the production of Sital Pati mats other than Tripura and Assam.
Around 14000 families are engaged in the art of weaving Sital Pati in Cooch Behar district where a museum exhibiting different types of Sital Pati mats has been set up in a place called Ghughumari. In addition, the Rural Craft Hub project sponsored by UNESCO has recognized Sital Pati art as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage”. This art has dramatically changed the livelihood of the artists and now a substantial improvement can be seen in their living standard. The government of West Bengal along with the Government of India are encouraging more and more villagers to take up this art through training programmes. Diverse schemes for providing financial assistance to the artists have been introduced to inspire our craftswomen and craftsmen. Handicraft fairs and exhibitions are organized both nationally and internationally in which our artists participate to have a better understanding of the market requirements as also to showcase their creations. These exhibitions offer an excellent opportunity for establishing new contacts and give them a true exposure to the outside world.
Sital Pati mats are perfect to be carried to your beach parties or for relaxing in your garden or terrace with friends and family members. Hang them to your walls and windows and enjoy their natural beauty. Due to their naturally cool nature, these mats are 100% natural products which make them unique and exclusive. Resting on them would be an entirely different experience for you.
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