Public Project
The Timeless Art of Silk Mat Weaving
Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) NGO Assignment
Pattamadai, a village in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district, is known for its handwoven korai grass mats. The craft, passed down for generations, The Lebbai, a Tamil-speaking Muslim trading community, are the only ones who weave these mats. Known as Pattamadai pai, they come in various qualities, with the finest called pattu pai (silk mat) or korai pai (korai grass mat).
However, the younger generation of Lebbai families is losing interest in this traditional craft. Many are pursuing higher education and careers abroad, finding it difficult to continue their ancestral work. As a result, only the older generation remains dedicated to weaving. Since each mat takes around ten days to complete and the income is not enough to sustain a livelihood, the tradition is slowly fading, putting the future of Pattamadai mat weaving at risk.
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