Dewambari Devi ji standing at her Kholi in Garhwal, Uttarakhand

In the Garhwali dialect, the traditional doorway is known as kholi. It is the main entrance of a house which subsequently leads upstairs. A house containing Kholi and Tiwar is considered auspicious and is said to bring prosperity to its owner. The design is geometrical and peculiar, made with the help of various chisels and hammers. On the top-middle portion of the Kholi, an idol of Lord Ganesha is carved first. It is customary that no Kholi is made without the depiction of Ganesh.

In Mangal Geet (auspicious songs usually recited in Uttarakhand), Lord Ganesh is worshipped first:

"Dena hoyan kholi ka Ganesha,

Dena hoyan mori ka Naraina"

The strong timber used for this is called Twonn or Shandann locally. Very few carpenters who are experts in this expensive and pain-staking craft remain, mostly at Bandoli village near Nandasain in Chandpurgarh.

Contributed By :

Harish Benjwal