FOOT MATS (CHAVATTI) 

Dear friends, 

Today my posting is about the FOOTMATS. The main content of foot mat was 
coconut husk till about two decades. Nowa day foot mats are available with many 
other materials also. Our flooringstyles has changed, accordingly the foot mat 
too. 

However the basic requirements offoot mats are two. One is grip with flooring 
and second removing dust from feet.Different types of doormats are available  
with coir, jute, rubber with coir, cotton etc. Let me continue withdoormat. 

Sincerely,

Gopala Krishnan. 15-6-2011. 

Reposted on 29-12-2020 after editing and updating. R.Gopala Krishnan. .

1. Chakiri mettha- Who will clean? 

There is a saying that Maddalamget hits on both sides. Similarly the foot mat. 
We enter in or we go out, weclean our feet in foot mat. The fellow performs a 
glorious service.  

But what is the admiration andcleaning he gets? If he is in the outside, he has 
to suffer rain and heat. Ifhe is in the inside, always he has to be holding 
with floor and as such keptnear door frame. Door mat is not given much 
independence. Present day somedoormats stick with door, without much depending 
on door. However one has to bevery cautious about it if no door frame is there. 
Present day mostconstructions, provide inner doors without bottom frame. Only 
for the front andback door bottom frame is provided. 

Like the dhobi cleans the clothes,the foot mat cleans the feet. Not only clean, 
he also helps to remove itching,if a person rubs his foot/feet on it. 

But in most places, he is at themercy of the last grade servants for its 
cleaning. They too take him out, againblow on both sides and sometimes one 
side, and put back giving him 40-50%cleaning considering him as a patient with 
contagious disease.  The servant think even that much cleaning ismuch more to 
him. 

Even for this he has to wait forthe mercy of the last grade men. One will ask 
the other to clean it avoidingcleaning. Some better treatment is only in 
Hospitals. The cleaning personthinks that he may get suffocation by dust flying 
out. 

The normal discussion among door matsis – when we would get fully cleaned in 
our life time?  We are all left half way cleaned. Mostcleaners think that is 
sufficient and more for us. 

Without sympathy they are beatenby servants make them appear aged at 6 months 
as 2 year old, tearing sides   by beating. 

2. Preference to new entrants. 

Where as a person gets senioritywith service and more recognition with years of 
service, for the door mat it isthe other way. With least consideration of 
service, from office he is given tooutside service. After some time without 
mercy it is thrown to dustbins. Thenew entrants are put inside. 

Here only the old doormat weep.As new before starting service what a welcome? 
Everybody take in both hands andsee the elegancy in the shops. Everybody see 
the quality. 95% of people smell.What more is required?  But once the matstarts 
its duty, just like electric train speed, its attraction fades away. At50 years 
the foot mat is made to   appear as 85 years.  

3. Heavier and beating 

As if it is his fault, the matget blow when he becomes heavier, to such an 
extent two people hold together ifit has a big body. However the mats play tit 
for tat sometimes with theassistance of wind, the heavier particles goes and 
struck exactly in the eye ofany on lookers.  

4. Ganga snanam 

The coir mat has its nostalgicmemories when he was in coconut husk form; he was 
fully immersed in water formonths together. Due to smell emanating, he was fed 
up with water life and thengiven a release.  

Now water? The coir mat earnestlydesires a bath for some time and relaxes. Just 
like one in 20 get a chance forgoing over to Kasi and perform Gaya srardha, a 
meagre quantity get the chanceof bath, if they are in five star hotels or near 
Luxurious swimming pools.Otherwise the Ganga snanam is only when left 
unattended in rain. I am told by awashing machine technician after removing 
dust and washed in machine it wouldappear brand new. I have not tested. 

5. New companions 

The new companions are cotton matand jute mat. Though told companions they get 
better deal. Their golden period. 

 They never have to be in the outside. Theirplace is near bed room and entrance 
to washrooms and before kitchen. Other thanin location, treatment is nothing 
special. But everybody first use the coir matat entrance and back yard and he 
has no transfer. Of course the cotton and jutemats are born with brass spoons 
in mouth. They get more cleaning. 

6. Still thinking 

With all these things the coirmat is not seen anywhere within temples. He was 
all the while coveringthe coconut while in Tree. There is no socialism among 
parts of the coconuttree. Coconut is used for neeranjanam, thrimadhram, 
kattipayasam etc. But coir mat – not in temple premises.  

The sraadha Brahmins do not cleanfoot on coir mat. What an ayitham for them. 

7. Artificial friend ship 

Now a day coir mat is givencompelled friend ship with rubber. One advantage. 
10% hit is shared by him.Coir is given placement over rubber sheet. He is 
moulded in a manner that withnew type of flooring he could give better grip. 
But he peels off quicklypulling the legs of healthy coir over it. 

8. Fibre mats- challenge in beauty 

The new fibre mats have become achallenge in beauty to coir mats. They come 
with more durability, appealingcolours and somewhat 50% good in efficiency. 
However as long as front and backdoors are there, coir mat position is safe.  

9. Cotton mats.

They absorb water and has goodthickness. Before wash rooms they are used. 
Though his duty is the same, manytimes he gets a cotton cover and they are 
removed when guests come for goodappearance.  

10 General 

Whatever the type of mat, one hasto be cautious with the mat after becoming 
old. Many provide grip with waterused to mop the floor. If floor moping is not 
done they may make one slip. Mostof the coir mats are slippery because the 
floor is tiled, with mosaic, graniteor marble. If it would have been cement 
some grip it could get.  At one time in offices the location for floormat was 
made like a pit of one inch below floor level and suitable type of matwas 
provided which would fit inside. Now such arrangements are least seen. 

If a soft cleaning is done theycould serve more, never make one slip. No 
cleaning man/ women do so even whenclear instruction is given.

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