'Shital Pati' is the traditional art of making a handcrafted mat by weaving strips of green cane into it. One of the famous traditional mats in Bangladesh the word Shital Pati means "cool mat." In Bengali.
It is a rectangular flat sheet that can be rolled into a bundle to be stored. As a sitting mat, bedspread, or prayer mat, its upper surface is glossy and smooth, while the inner surface is rough. Although the mat is woven from thin strips of green cane, its natural color is brown. It has a weave pattern similar to a jigsaw puzzle. Cane strips can also be dyed. One way 'patial' or 'patikaar' (meaning 'mat-maker') creates motifs is to weave them into birds, animals, flowers, or leaves in different symmetric patterns to be used as a prayer mat, bedspread, or sitting mat.
The main weavers are in low-lying villages in the greater Sylhet region of Bangladesh, however, Shital Pati is also found in other areas of the country. As a major source of livelihood as well as a sense of identity, the Shital Pati rugs are primarily a family-based craft. They are taught to daughters from mothers and fathers to sons in the family, and this family bonding extends across the community.
Weavers often invite women from neighboring families to come to their courtyards and observe how they weave and design mats, resulting in a harmonious social atmosphere. Shital pati making is a tradition observed profession in dozens of villages and carries a high social status. The time and effort spent in producing Shital Pati with fine and intricate patterns and motifs have a great impact on individuals and families.
Shital Pati has gained popularity in the interior decoration industry, strengthening the bond between rural and urban communities. High-end fashion designers and book illustrators use Shital Pati as an ethnic motif, enhancing its cultural value. Governmental efforts are being made to raise awareness of Shital Pati through local and national craft fairs, and cooperatives have been established to help ensure the efficient safeguarding and transmission of the craft and its profitability.
People in the communities are being directly involved in safeguarding efforts, and the practice is being passed on from generation to generation within the families of the craftspeople. Today it is estimated that almost 4000 families in about 100 villages are directly involved in weaving Shital Pati. However, with the gradual ebbing of caste systems, more people from any caste took interest in the techniques and skills of weaving.