Craft Name: Sabai Grass Weaving
Region: Mayurbhanj district Odisha
CRAFT
HISTORY
Sabai grass craft began in the forest regions of Mayurbhanj (Odisha) and Purulia (West Bengal), where communities used Sabai for ropes and utility objects. The British promoted Sabai grass rope-making in the early 1900s due to its strength. Over time, artisans developed coiling, braiding, and weaving techniques to create baskets, mats, and lifestyle products. Women’s self-help groups later revived the craft for livelihood generation. By the late 20th century, Sabai became a major eco-craft exported internationally.
WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:
- Made from strong, flexible Sabai grass.
- Known for its durability and earthy textures.
- Sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Received a
GI tag in 2023
COLOURS
- Natural, sometimes can be dyed into various colours, such as green, pink, orange, black etc.
MOTIFS
How much time does it take to make a product, and how many artisans are involved in making this craft?
A Sabai grass product takes 1–3 days, involving 1–2 artisans in the process
RAW MATERIAL
- Sabai grass
- Jute/cotton twine or thread
- Wooden or metal frames
- Glue
- Common tools
- Looms/
- Scissors/knives
CRAFT MAKING PROCESS
HOW TO IDENTIFY GENUINE AND AUTHENTIC CRAFT
- Sabai rope feels coarse but springy, with visible natural fibre strands; it holds dye unevenly in a natural way (not an ultra-uniform plastic look).
- Hand-twisted ropes show slight irregularities in twist pitch and occasional fibre fuzzing; the coiled joins show hand-stitched tensions.