Thanks to the arrival of summer season, demand for khaskhas door and window mats are on high demand. When hung on windows, the mats give cool air.
To make khaskhas mats, at least 200 families of Jajpur are now busy. They are collecting roots of Bena trees which are available in the riverside areas of Bari, Balichandrapur, Dharmasala, Korei and Binjharpur.
“We prepare Khuskhus mats from the roots of scented Bena trees in summer which are found in the riverside areas. After uprooting Bena trees, we dry the roots and make door and window mats from the roots,” said Asit Jena of Balichandrapur.
The roots of Bena trees absorb water for long time for which the Khaskhas users sprinkle water on the Khaskhas mats. Making door and window mats from the roots of the Bena tree is not an easy task. But since long at least 200 Dalit families of the district have been making Khaskhas in summer to eke out their livings.
“Our scope for work is restricted now as the Bena products sell at dismally low prices. Besides, the sales are generally slack, barring summer time,” said Prakash Jena, a Khaskhas maker of Bari.
“For over last five decades, we have also been making mats from Bena trees. During the British Raj, the demand of the mats was high. Due to non-availability of electricity and fans, the British people and other officials including landlords and rich people used to cover their houses with Khaskhas mats in the summer. But after the advent of modern electrical fans and air-condition systems, many rich people are not preferring to cover their houses with Khaskhas mats,” said Balabhadra Jena (78), a Khaskhas maker of Bari.
The demand for Khaskhas remains steady in summer season despite the emergence of air-conditioners as many people consider the Khaskhas as eco-friendly and less expensive,” said Manoj Jena (45), a Khaskhas maker Binjharpur.