Livelihoods are changing, old traditions are disappearing. Similarly, the traditional hand-made mats of rural Bengal are about to disappear.
Once in the village, artisans were seen busy weaving mats made of mats. Not only men but also women were involved in that work. The grasses cultivated in the field are then cut and dried in the sun to make mats. They spread that mat and spent the day sitting on it.
Even today, madur is used along with other materials in various social events including puja parbans, shraddhas and weddings of Sanatan faiths. The livelihood of many families depended on the mat industry, which was developed on the model of Shital Pati.
On the surface, the scene of selling mats can be seen in the Kalagachi market of Tala upazila of Satkhira district. Many are selling handmade mats to support their families. But nowadays, due to the advent of plastic, the value of handmade mats has decreased. A handful of families have kept this industry alive by working hard day and night.
It has been found that the main materials for making mats are jute rope, a little bamboo and some capital in cash. At a special time of the season, common people do not have much work to do. At that time, ordinary working people did not waste their idle time and made mats at home with mats for family needs. They made 3 to 4 mats a week and sold those retail and wholesale in the bazaar and ran his family.
Meanwhile, the price of plastic mats is increasing day by day due to the reduction in the production of mats. Materials for making plastic mats are readily available throughout the year. Due to the huge demand in the market, workers involved in agricultural work are also now turning to this profession.
Jotsna Mandal, who came to sell mats in Kalagachi market, said that mats are disappearing day by day from rural Bengal. Earlier, when the people of the village had free time, they used to weave mats in all the houses. But now people do not weave mats anymore as leaf production is low.
From her side, a woman named Sarala Roy said regretfully, once we made a living by weaving this mat. I am a mother of 4 children. I raised them by weaving mats. But due to the loss of leaves day by day and increasing use of plastic, the value of the mat is decreasing. Even to run the family we have to weave mats. But I don't get good prices like before. Thus the handmade cottage industry is disappearing day by day.