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{{Short description|Traditional art of the Kashmir Valley, India}}
[[File:A Woman weaving Wagoo.jpg|thumb|A Woman weaving Wagoo]]
'''Wagoo''' ({{lit|reed mat}}), also spelled as '''waguv''', and known by the variant name '''patig''', is a [[Kashmiri culture|Kashmiri traditional]] mat crafted from [[Reed (plant)|reed]] and [[rice straw]], predominantly using ''[[Typha angustifolia]]'', a grass commonly found near water bodies such as ponds, lakes, and [[drainage channel]]s. Artisans who craft wagoo are referred to as "wagoo weavers". This practice is one of the oldest traditions of the [[Kashmir Valley]] and has been a part of [[culture of Kashmir|its culture]] for nearly 300 years.<ref name="o159"/><ref name="o542"/>

Wagoo serve as insulation during [[Chillai Kalan|chillai kalan]] (winter) and as a cooling surface in summer. They are typically lightweight. The Typha angustifolia grass is harvested when it reaches a height of 4 to 6 feet and is woven into traditional structures. Being [[biodegradable]], these mats are believed to contribute to [[Health benefit (medicine)|health benefit]]s, such as supporting [[low back pain]] and improving [[blood circulation|circulation]]. However, these claims are not supported by scientific evidence and thus remained uncertain.<ref name="o159"/><ref name="o542"/>

== Design ==
The design of a waguv typically involves 2 to 3 artisans. The process begins by twisting long [[rope]]s, which are then used to [[interlock]] the reed, creating the mat's structure. This technique contributes to the functional mat preferable for traditional use.<ref name="p988">{{cite web | last=Ganaie | first=Jahangeer | title=The dying art: Kashmir's traditional mat Wagoo | website=Kashmir News Observer | date=27 Aug 2020 | url=https://www.kashmirnewsobserver.com/top-stories/the-dying-art-kashmir-s-traditional-mat-wagoo-kno-175800 | access-date=19 Dec 2024}}</ref> However, before twisting ropes, the grass stacks are thoroughly soaked to soften the material. This process makes the grass easier to twist and braid into ropes.<ref name="e454">{{cite web | last=Akash | first=Manzoor | title=Tradition Woven in Grass | website=Rising Kashmir | date=9 Mar 2024 | url=https://risingkashmir.com/tradition-woven-in-grass/ | access-date=19 Dec 2024}}</ref>

== Usage ==
Waguv, the traditional reed mat, was the primary flooring material in Kashmiri homes. People would first apply a layer of [[clay]] to their [[floor]]s and then cover them with these mats. However, waguvs lose their quality when exposed to [[moisture]], making them almost unusable.<ref name="z162">{{cite web | last=Bashir | first=Aliya | title=Kashmiri Weaver Keeps Reed Mat Tradition Alive Despite Drop in Profits | website=Global Press Journal | date=16 Apr 2014 | url=https://globalpressjournal.com/asia/indian-administered_kashmir/kashmiri-weaver-keeps-reed-mat-tradition-alive-despite-drop-in-profits/ | access-date=19 Dec 2024}}</ref>

== Decline ==
{{See also|Economic history of India|Poverty in India}}
The decline in the use of waguv is largely attributed to the adoption of modern [[flooring]] and the growing preference for synthetic alternatives, which are viewed as more durable and contemporary.<ref name="o159">{{cite web | last=Mushtaq | first=Mehroob | title=From every hearth to oblivion, the slow fade of Waguv | website=Greaterkashmir | date=15 Jan 2024 | url=https://m.greaterkashmir.com/article/from-every-hearth-to-oblivion-the-slow-fade-of-waguv/270592 | access-date=19 Dec 2024}}</ref><ref name="o542">{{cite web | last=Ahmad | first=Iqbal | title=The abysmal state of traditional Mat manufacturing in Kashmir | website=Kashmir Images - Latest News Update | date=2 Dec 2018 | url=https://thekashmirimages.com/2018/12/02/the-abysmal-state-of-traditional-mat-manufacturing-in-kashmir/ | access-date=19 Dec 2024}}</ref> As a result, demand for waguv decreased significantly, leading many [[artisan]]s to abandon the craft. In the modern-day, waguv is occasionally used by a small number of people in rural areas, primarily due to [[poverty|limited financial resource]]s.<ref name="d307">{{cite web | last=Life | first=Kashmir | title=A Lost Mat | website=Kashmir Life | date=8 Nov 2009 | url=https://kashmirlife.net/a-lost-mat-1045/ | access-date=19 Dec 2024}}</ref>

== In literature ==
Wagoo has been the subject of a book titled ''Floor Coverings from Kashmir: Kaleen Carpets, Namdah, Gabba, Ari Rugs, and Wagoo Mats'' by Promil Pande. The book traces its origin and cultural traditions.<ref name="w296">{{cite web | title=Read an exclusive excerpt from the book Floor Coverings from Kashmir | website=Hindustan Times | date=20 Jan 2024 | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/read-an-exclusive-excerpt-from-the-book-floor-coverings-from-kashmir-101705744482675.html | access-date=19 Dec 2024}}</ref> The book traces the origins of traditional carpets, including wagoo, linking them to the [[Indus Valley Civilization]] and continuing through to the 15th century during the reign of [[Zayn al-Abidin the Great]]. This historical narrative is similar to the one followed for [[pashmina shawl]]s.<ref name="o609">{{cite web | title=Book highlights handcrafted carpets, rugs and mats of Kashmir | website=ThePrint | date=18 Nov 2023 | url=https://theprint.in/india/book-highlights-handcrafted-carpets-rugs-and-mats-of-kashmir/1850061/ | access-date=19 Dec 2024}}</ref>

== Later development ==
In 2020, the [[government of Jammu and Kashmir]] launched Karkhandar Scheme to revive traditional crafts, including waguv, by merging the Department of Handicrafts and the Department of Handlooms into the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handlooms. As part of the scheme, the Waguv Karkhandar Centre was established to provide training and support for artisans. The initiative was focused on to preserve the craft and improve the [[socio-economic]] conditions of the artisans. However, the current status of the initiative remains uncertain.<ref name="o159"/>

== Books ==
* {{cite book | last=Pande | first=P. | title=Floor Coverings from Kashmir: Kaleen Carpets, Namdah, Gabba, Ari Rugs and Wagoo Mats | publisher=Niyogi Books | year=2024 | isbn=978-81-964053-4-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QgMp0AEACAAJ | access-date=19 Dec 2024}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Kashmiri culture]]
[[Category:Indus Valley Civilisation]]

Wagoo - Revision history

Yeashrahman: created basic info w/ sources