Post News Network
Cuttack, March 29: With the onset of summer, several sellers can be seen selling mats made from dry grass to be hung on doors and windows, in Ranihat and Buxibuzar areas.
Even as expensive air-conditioners are favoured by offices, especially government establishments, there are still some which opt for the cheaper and traditional grass mats, also popularly known as benacharas.
“During summers, we bring these dry grass mats from different parts of Cuttack and Keonjhar district. It is collected from the bushy areas and jungles and is dried further to be readied for making panels or mats. In summers, it is used in households and offices to provide a cooling effect. It is sprinkled with water for best results and the effects last for quite a while. We sell five mats on an average daily,” said Sanjay Behera, a seller from Ranihat.
However, technology is threatening to eat into the sales of these mat sellers with air-conditioners becoming increasingly affordable for the middle-class. But, Manoranjan Kumar, a seller from Buxi Bazar, is confident that there will always be a big market for the mats.
“Benacharas were used extensively earlier but now air-conditioners and air-coolers have become popular. It has made a small dent to our business but we still get enough buyers,” Manoranjan said. He added that orders are received mainly from government offices which do not have air-conditioners installed.
“These mats come in different sizes that can be fixed on windows and doors and range between `200-500,” he said, adding the mats are not only extremely cheap but are good value-for-money, are eco-friendly and need no servicing apart from some sprinkling of water, and do not add to monthly electricity bills unlike ACs and air-coolers.
However, the appeal of the benacharas is not for all. A government official said while the benacharas would prove to be mildly effective during early summer, they would be pointless during peak summer. “I would always prefer an AC in my office as benacharas as not as effective during harsh summer months,” he said.
