Handloom Kora Grass Mat - Vellore
The cotton thread is tied to one end of the Pallani (locally called for reed), the broken threads are knotted to each other firmly by the weavers knot. The threads are lengthened by the clockwise and anticlockwise movements of the hand of the craftsmen to the required length, keeping the threads in the hands of the craftsmen only. Each loop is then tied to the pole with the rope tightly, the reed is brought forward with the stick that behaves like the heddle.
The Mukoonam kol with the foot support (i.e. the three sticks in the triangle shape) is placed firmly and the stick behaving like the heddle is tied and raised up to the required height. Then the Vaalae is placed in between the threads for spacing and the Maezuthatae on the threads for supporting the foot movement while weaving. After placing the Pallani manae the threads are adjusted in all sides and tightened. The thin wooden piece Pithaalae is passed in between the gaps of the two threads for placing the kora grass either plain or coloured as per the pattern to be woven.
As per the craftsmen, it requires three hours in setting and weaving of one paaya (i.e. mat) whereas for his wife about five hours. The loom is always set by himself and his wife extends her hand in weaving after completing the household work. The kora grass are placed in little water and then woven to avoid the breakages. After the required length of mat is woven, the threads are cut with knife and knotted.
On the other hand the craftswomen twists the separated sisal fiber to a thread form with the Katalae Nool Kadhira, that is used as thread to sew the edges along with two kora grass and thin coir rope for stiffness at the edges. After the edges are stitched with the sisal fibers, it is then cut with the knife to obtain a smooth finish.
These are the only craftsmen left in Vaniyambadi who till today follow the making of the mat on the traditional ground loom, whereas others have shifted to making on the power looms. As there are some of the power looms in the nearby locations who weave the mats, the coloured kora grass are generally brought from them and woven as per the craftswomen.
As the sons of the craftsmen had expired due to ill health few years ago, this method of weaving is only known to him and his wife. This is the only craftsmen at Vaniyambadi who is keenly insisting on following this tradition as it was handed down to him by his father. Though there are lot of difficulties the craftsmen is facing in Vaniyambadi they are trying their best to keep this craft alive till their death.
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