In India, Traditional floor mat, we suppose to mean as korai grass made floor mat, which is commonly known as Madur in West Bengal. Korai grass or madur is a plant and scientifically under the Cyperaceae family. Pattamadai pai from Tamilnadu is also from the same scientific family.  

This plant have been cultivate mainly in the district of Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur, in the State of West Bengal.  Almost there are 5000 weavers who weave this type of mat in the both districts. Among them 90% are women.

This Korai grass or river grass grow up to 3-4 fit in height. After cutting from the field, the artisans use to cut in pieces of every korai stick or Madur kathi. Thereafter the cutting pieces has been dried on direct sunlight to get the appropriate dimension for weaving mats.

Traditionally the mat has been woven on a simple wooden frame- loom. The wrap is jute thread and weft is the thin, soft and processed those dried ‘korai-reeds’. In West Bengal the edge of this type of mat has been locked by the reeds itself which is different from Pattamadai mat, where the edge has been stitched by fabrics.

 Generally, the mat weaves in 26inch to 60inch in width and in length 65inch to 72inch. Especially Women, after finishing their daily household works, use to weave the mat. It takes 3-4days to weave one mat. After weaving the mats, those has been sold out in local Hat or mandi.

This traditional floor mat from korai grass or river grass is bad conductor of heat, therefore this type of mat is very useful in the humid climate like in India. People can use for sleeping, sitting or even yoga practice. As there is no use of any chemical, no nasty smell comes. This type of mat has very aesthetic value in our social life. It has wide use in marriage and other important ceremonies in India.

It is one of the important cottage industry in India. Village economy and women empowerment, especially in both the districts of Medinipur in the State of West Bengal depends almost on this mat weaving.