Uttarakhand is rich in beauty, culture, and folk art. Home decoration is where people’s art is first evident. You’ll find homes adorned with intricate wooden carvings. Doors and windows are crafted from wood, and the doorframes are adorned with exquisite carvings depicting gods and goddesses, elephants, lions, and peacocks. However, these carvings are not merely for aesthetic purposes, but for their intricately woven motifs.
The first thing that strikes you upon entering a village in Uttarakhand is the main door frame, known locally as “Kholi.” It’s not just a door, but a sacred and significant symbol of Garhwal’s traditional architecture, culture, social prestige, art, religious beliefs, and traditions. A Kholi is the main entrance located in the center of a house, dividing it into two sections. Upon entering the Kholi, there are stairs. The Kholi’s distinctive feature is the intricate hand-carvings, known locally as “Likhai Art.” It is believed that in ancient times, the larger and more elaborately carved a family’s kholi was, the greater their prestige and wealth was. Kholi typically carved by local craftsmen using Devdaar or tun wood with motifs such as creepers, lotus flowers, parrots, and peacocks.
Religious and Cultural Significance
It is mandatory to carve an idol of Lord Ganesha on the top of every kholi. Ganesha is considered the remover of obstacles or protector of the home, preventing negative energy from entering the house. According to beliefs, when the kholi is completed, the carved figures of deities are purified by applying fresh mountain butter. This ritual is believed to please the deities and bring prosperity to the home. During auspicious occasions, Aipan art is applied to the kholi’s door frame or threshold using red clay (geru) and rice paste.
In Uttarakhand, during auspicious occasions, the famous Garhwal Mangal songs are sung in which Kholi finds special mention “Daida Hoya Kholi Ka Ganesha, Daida Hoya Mori Ka Narain” which means that Lord Ganesha should reside on the doorstep of our house and Narayan should reside on the source of water and bring happiness and prosperity. According to traditional beliefs, a house which has both Kholi (door) and Tibari (window, balcony) is considered very auspicious and prosperous.