Kath-Kuni Architecture
- ‘Kath-Kuni’ is a popular type of natural building which uses locally available wood and stone as prime materials for construction. These humble-looking abodes made of stone, mud and wood were popular in Himachal Pradesh and parts of Uttarakhand.
- At the time of anearthquake, a Kath-Kuni structure might shake, but is less likely to collapse. Winters in Himachal are harsh and unforgiving. During this time, concrete houses become extremely cold and need expensive heating arrangements.
- But Kath-Kuni houses provide excellent heat insulation. Their thick double walls help to retain heat and mud plaster allows free movement of air.
- Kath-Kuni is structurally different from conventional building methods. Instead of vertical columns, it is built on horizontal beams. Through ‘criss cross’ bracings, an entire wooden structure is constructed.
- Even the joineries are made of wood. The weight of tightly packed stones provides stability to the structure while the wooden beams provide flexibility. Slate tiles are used to lay the roof, their weight presses the entire structure downwards and adds further to its stability.
- Kath-Kuni structures are slowly vanishing in Himachal Pradesh. This is due to the rapid urbanisation of the Himalayan region and easy availability of cheap alternative materials like concrete.
- · Banbibi, the lady of the forest, also Bandevi, Bandurga and Byaghradevi is a guardian spirit of the forests venerated by both the Hindu and the Muslim residents of the Sundarbans (spread across West Bengal state in eastern India and Bangladesh).
- She is called upon mostly by the honey-collectors and the woodcutters before entering the forest for protection against the attacks from the tigers.
- It is believed that the demon king, Dakkhin Rai (or Dakshin Rai; meaning Lord of the South), an arch-enemy of Banbibi actually appears in the disguise of a tiger and attacks human beings.
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