The Dying Moonj Grass Weaving Tradition of Uttar Pradesh: Art and Craft
- Kaavya Shukla
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
Moonj, also known as Saccharum Munja, is a wild grass that grows abundantly along the banks of rivers in India and is deeply embedded in Indian culture as a symbol of female strength, survival, and continuity of ancient traditions. The craft exemplifies the resourcefulness of Indian rural craftsmen, especially the women of Purvanchal in Uttar Pradesh. Its widespread availability, along with its unique characteristics, makes it a resource with diverse applications in both traditional handicrafts and modern industrial products.
The Moonj craft is a beautiful representation of Indian social structure where tradition and community take precedence over everything. It serves not only as a business venture but also as a social one. Women work in groups and gather in courtyards such as the one found in Behra Dabar, a village in Bhatni. This blend of work and socialization, sharing meals and stories, and exchanging good-natured jokes creates a feeling of camaraderie and unity among these women.
The respect for age and experience in Indian culture is emphasized by the presence of older women who serve as mentors to the younger generation, ensuring that traditional weaving methods are maintained and refined. To help the art pass through more hands and minds, a group of 50 women from Deshi Deoria, Bhatni, and Sonughat villages of Uttar Pradesh have come together to create viable commerce from the craft. Not only are they skilled artists of their craft, but they also work as a community with a great sense of ownership. Among the various roles they assume, they serve as leaders, supervisors, trainers, task delegates, and maintainers of a balanced routine of work and play. This collective effort operates under the name "Moonj of Purvanchal," an initiative supported by Jagriti Enterprise Center, Purvanchal.
Moonj is harvested in October and November. Despite being mostly complementary to agriculture, Moonj weaving serves as an important source of income for rural families. This dual-occupation paradigm is common in rural India, where farming is susceptible to seasonal changes and inherent risks, making it essential to engage in other activities to maintain economic stability.
The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative is based on this age-old craft, linking these goods to wider markets and providing a platform for women to participate in economic activities. Working with Moonj grass offers an avenue for economic development and women's empowerment in Uttar Pradesh by providing them with raw material to produce marketable handicrafts and utilitarian products, enabling them to earn income and promote self-sufficiency. Furthermore, participation in such livelihood activities may increase women's participation in their communities and decision-making processes at home and in society, as they become more conscious of their rights and status.
Moonj weaving serves as a means of self-expression among these women. Vibrant colors like red, green, purple, and yellow are characteristic features of Indian folk art, where color conveys joy, celebration, and life. The complexity of patterns created through traditional coiling techniques testifies to the skill and patience of the artisans.
The products themselves are symbolic in nature. For example, a woven Moonj craft basket given as part of a bride's trousseau serves as a useful gift and connection to heritage. It represents a gesture of love and blessing for the new life she is about to embark upon. This tradition reinforces the idea that an art form is not just a product but a carrier of personal and cultural stories, passed down from one generation to the next.
Moonj finds wide application in various crafts: skilled artisans weave it into durries (traditional Indian woven carpets) and mats, valued for the fiber's durability; basketry, where artisans create strong and attractive baskets for use in agriculture, storage, and daily activities; rope making, where Moonj ropes are known to be sturdy and flexible, making them useful in agriculture, construction, and other daily activities; and traditional festivals, where it is used to make ornamental items like torans (festive door hangings) and idols for celebrations such as Chhath Puja, its flexibility allowing it to be molded into intricate patterns.
From an environmental perspective, Moonj craft aligns perfectly with India's historic tradition of harmoniously coexisting with nature. Moonj is a naturally renewable and biodegradable resource, making the products inherently eco-friendly. These products, in striking contrast to synthetic and mass-produced goods, reflect a preference for sustainability and natural materials, demonstrating artisanal authenticity. Craftsmen skillfully bridge the gap between time-tested craftsmanship and modern environmental standards by creating contemporary utilitarian items like planters and coasters, demonstrating the harmonious integration between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary environmental values.