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Korai grass

Common name

Local names

Botanical name

Available region in India

Korai grass

Korai (Tamil)

Jammu (Telugu)

Chaape ullu (Kannada)

Cyperus pangorei

Largely in Karur district of Tamil Nadu

Korai belongs to the Cyperus family. Cyperus are tender, aquatic perennials, grown for decorative foliage. Produces clumps of long stems, 1 to 3 feet normally, but up to 5 feet in excellent conditions; these are crowned with long, slender, radiating, dark green leaves like an umbrella, thus gives it the common name. Small, brown or green, fuzzy flowers are produced from the tops of the stems. C. papyrus produces clumps of long dark green stems, 12 to 15 feet high, topped with a bush of drooping, grasslike leaves and brown flower spikelets nearly a foot in length. Some varieties of Cyperus are valued economically. C. esculentus produces underground nuts, called chufa nuts, which are edible when dry and are used to some extent for stock feed. Others are used for making ropes, mats, medicine, etc. C. pongarus culms are used for making varied utilitarian products like mats.

Tools

Knife – It is a normal kitchen knife used to separate the pith and the skin of the korai. It is also used for splicing the korai.

River stone – It is a smooth river stone which is used to polish the mat by rubbing the stone on the mat.

Production process of korai grass mat weaving

• The korai grass is soaked in water for 4-8 days depending on the quality of grass. This is done so that the pith of the korai can be removed easily. More the no. of days it is soaked, finer the korai can be spliced.

Korai grass stored in ICF warehouse at Pattamadai

Soaking the grass

• Once the korai is soaked completely, it is bought back by the artisans from the canals. First, the pith is removed and then it is spliced with the help of the knife. This is done when the korai is still wet.

Splicing the grass with a small knife

• For weaving, first the warping of the loom is done, which takes about half a day. Cotton warp is used for weaving the mat. During warping, the reed is set according to the quality / count of the mat required. Here, for eg. If the reed count is 100, it means that in 9 inches (widthwise) it can accommodate 100 warp threads. Accordingly the korai is spliced.

• The weft (spliced korai) is inserted in between the warp with the help of a shuttle. Once in between the weft is twisted and beaten for a firm grip.

• To change the shaft, a bamboo is inserted in between the warp and is brought from and back, therefore changing the shaft.

• While weaving, the korai is constantly wetted for more flexibility.

• While weaving, there is no selvedge, therefore the sides are open. Once the mat is woven fully and cut, these sides are manually sewed or given a cloth border.

• To weave one superfine mat of the size 30"x 72", it takes about 10 days working 3 – 4 hours a day