Kauna Reed Craft
A spongy lake reed woven into mats and cushions soft enough to sleep on.
The cushion-soft mat and basketry craft of Manipur, made from 'kauna', a water reed grown in the wetlands and paddy fields around Loktak Lake and Imphal. The spongy, flexible stems are woven and coiled into prayer mats, sitting mats ('phak'), cushions ('kambong'), bags, hats and increasingly into contemporary furniture and homeware.
Craft at a Glance
Origin
Imphal, Manipur
Craft Type
Water-reed mat and basket weaving
Materials
Kauna reed (a Schoenoplectus / Scirpus water rush), sun-dried; cotton yarn for warp and stitching; cane, bamboo or wire for rims and frames; fabric lining for bags and cushions; natural and chemical dyes.
Known For
Soft cushiony mats and cushions ('kambong'), prayer mats, contemporary reed furniture
Time to Create
A day for a mat; two to four days for a lined bag or a cushion
Process Steps
Harvesting and drying
Kauna reed is cut from the wetlands and dried in the sun for several days until it is springy and pale green-gold.
Sorting and flattening
Stems are graded by thickness; some are pressed flat for mat weft, others kept round for coiling and edges.
Weaving the mat or form
On a frame or over a mould the reed is woven tightly against a cotton warp, or coiled and stitched for a basket or cushion.
Finishing
Edges are folded in and bound; bags and cushions get a fabric lining and a cane or wire rim for shape.
Technique Glossary
A Craft Through Time
Traditional
Mats of the home
Meitei households weave kauna mats and cushions for daily use and for wedding trousseaux.
Late 20th century
Commercial craft
Cooperatives near Imphal begin producing kauna goods for markets outside Manipur.
2000s
National and export demand
Bags, table mats and furniture in kauna reach retailers across India and abroad, and reed cultivation expands to meet orders.
Present
A Manipur flagship craft
Kauna is among Manipur's largest craft employers and a regular feature of design and lifestyle retail.
Did You Know?
Kauna stems are naturally spongy and hollow, so a well-woven kauna mat has a cushioned give underfoot — Manipuri households use them as sitting and sleeping mats without any padding.
Every craft has a story. Every story begins with tradition.