Found in
abundance in the hills, the craftspersons of Garhwal & Kumaon mastered
the art of wood | carving. The woodcarving of ( Garhwal and Kumaon are
famous for its simple and beautiful designs. Even today the wooden front
doors of many houses of Garhwal are beautifully carved with floral
designs, animals and fishes. Ornamental wood carvings on front doors are
known as Kholi in the local language. In the past, houses were
beautifully ornamented with carved wooden doors and it was considered to
be a reflection of a man's status. The wealthier a person was, the bigger
was the front wooden door and more complicated were the carved designs.
These beautifully ornamented doors and windows still attract art lovers.
In Garhwal & Kumaon, the facade of the upper storeys of the
dwelling units are usually made of wood, and often artistically carved.
The traditional small window-aperture resembles pigeonholes, cut in wooden
panels. Designs of creepers and floral forms based on lotus, pomegranates
and grapes, images of humans, birds, animals and other sacred signs and
emblems find expression in the wood carvings on door panels, windows and
ceilings. The motifs, ordinarily of the Gods or Goddesses, add to the
richness of the carvings. The craftspersons also used to do specific
latticework to fill in the open space of the windows in order to give a
screen like effect.
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