Making of mats from water reeds

Finally finished and relaxing with the final roll of the mat

The city is a religious town Garhganga or Garhmukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh India. With the sacred city of Haridwar going to Uttra Khund with the partitioning of a big state for better governance. The Uttar Pradesh government is trying to develop this town. It had been neglected for many many decades.

More details can be got from http://wikimapia.org/6515236/Ganga-Mandir-Garh-Mukteshwar " This very ancient temple situated on top of the hill.It is dedicated to Ganga Maiya and Lord Brahma. Once Ganga used to flow here .There are 101 steps to reach the street level. If you throw stone over them you could hear watery sound. Puranic place now desolate.Garhmukteshwar is very ancient. Description comes in Vedas and Mahabharat. Not to be missed."

The Ganga Mandir was established by my fore fathers about 300 years back. We have another Ganga Mandir in old Delhi dating back to the same year. This temple in old Delhi was a part of the living complex. We have to maintain the temple in old Delhi like our house expense. The temple in Garhganga since it was on the banks of the river received enough donations was to be maintained by the donations. It was left to be managed by the heads of the town. This was never willed to any one. There is a recorded will of my fore fathers Dewan Nand Lal ji who laid the foundation of the temple. He was Dewan of Nawab Jajjar.

Ganga Maiya

The look has changed as the Uttar Pradesh Government spent quite a sum on renovation of the temple by covering up the open area to create a hall. The amount supposed to be spent can not be seen as what was constructed can not be of the amount that is quoted to be spent. Wow here also the corrupt never miss their chance making some money. Very sad it is but is true.

Temple view from the bottom of the hillock with 101 steps that emit a sound of water when walking or if some stone falls on its steps.

The Ganges flowed down the hillock where this temple stands. At that time there were many pilgrims. I am not sure when the river Ganges shifted its route away from this small town. I have been always trying to find out when the river changed its course to the current area called the Brij Ghat, which I believe about 5 to 6 kilometers away. Since it shifted the flow of pilgrims has become a trickle as most flock to the Brij Ghat. I have no idea how it is during the main festival periods, never been there during that time.

I have been going quite regularly along with my parents. After the demise of my parents we do still go there. Ours has been a very large joint family and now many family members make it a point to go there. The temple has some values where wishes of many people get fulfilled. One of the British officers could not get an issue, so some one suggested that he should seek the blessings of Ganga Maiya. His wish was fulfilled and placed a stone with his message of thanks.

Dried up land always gets people to inhabitate. Settlements pop up quite fast. In the dried river Ganges basin after it changed its route to 5 to 6 kilometers, as said a settlement has come up. There are lots families who work with water reeds to weave mats used to create temporary partitions, roof, walls etc. where required. I used to walk down the steps and shoot some frames as I always carried my camera, but that was always slide or negative films. Digital has made it quite easy to share images with people and in various forums like jpgmag.com, Blogger.com, etc.

The boy enjoys lying on the finished portion of the mat while his mother weaves the rest of the portion

A few years back I did a small shoot of a family where each member worked to weave these reeds in to mats. They occupy the side walk or any open space near their house. At that time 10 such mats cost Indian Rupees 400.

The whole of the family puts in the labor to weave mats for sale. They work on the side walk or any open areas as each mat requires some space to spread. 

Working space on the side walk

Over the time each family must have demarcated their area work and stocking raw material.

Young girl carrying a bundle of dried reeds to the work space

The young girl is busy weaving. The mehendi on her hands shows either she attended some wedding or she may have had some engagement, etc.

Checking the weave

Each open space as mentioned is used for working. The man works at the main entrance of his home. On the left is a hand pump to provide water to the family. The hearth is out side the main build up area. The smoke stays out. 

Each space is fully utilised

One can see the use of the mat on the right side. Though it is now quite worn out, this one of the uses to create a partition. These very much used during plucking seasons of fruits where they create a hut like structure to sort and stock fruits. It gives them a shelter.

The young fashionables

The boys really enjoy themselves. I am sure these must be the children from the weaver's families. 

Camaraderie

These children had their food and had come down. They enjoyed being photographed. There is the innocence and care free life seen in each one's face.


We had come here to distribute food. We call it a 'Bhandara'. This is mostly done to celebrate some festival, pay our respects for the departed parents or family members. The food is cooked in large quantity. The cooks get busy since morning. The trend here in Garhganga is to make the people sit and we serve them. There is space and it can be easily done. 

This is the hall created by the government by its own selected contractor under the supervision  of their engineers

In bigger towns it is difficult to do this way as there is lack of space. So we find road side stalls created. The food is cooked adjacent. The raw material is generally fixed, and what ever gets cooked is distributed. When it is finished, well it is finished.


There has been a stone that keeps building up. Each new growth over the time shows a shape of a religious person / saint, etc. It stays here in the temple. Many have tried to steal it.

The ever evolving sacred stone

From Delhi it is just 80 odd kilometers but it used to take about 2 hours plus drive by road. There was much of construction activity. I do hope quite a lot must have been completed making the drive in hours shorter.

Jai Ganga Maiya, may you bless all.