Pattamadai Kora Mat originates from Pattamadai in
Tirunelveli District of
Tamil Nadu. This particular variety of mat is made from the ‘kora’ grass.
The ‘kora’ grass grown in this region is of finer quality as compared to other regions. The fineness is seen in the mats, which are thinner and softer than the grass mats of the other regions. The quality is measured in count of the grass used, which ranges from 100 to 140. The mat can also be folded to form a purse, depending on its fineness.
For preparing these mats, grass is cut and dried for about nearly two weeks. To soften the grass, it is soaked in flowing river water. The grass is split in to linear pieces of almost hair-like thickness and dyed in various shades. The mat is made by placing the strands lengthwise while cotton threads are woven across them.
