Kulhar: Difference between revisions

A '''''kulhar''''' ([[Hindustani language|Hindi]]: कुल्हड़ and Urdu: کلہڑ) or '''''kulhad''''', sometimes called a '''''shikora''''', is a traditional handle-less [[clay]] cup from [[ India]] and [[Pakistan]] that is typically unpainted and unglazed, and meant to be disposable. The most interesting feature of kulhar is not being painted and that differentiates a kulhar from a terra-cotta cup. The kulhar cup is unglazed inside out.<ref name="jad64hajaw">{{Citation | title=Indian folk arts and crafts | author=Jasleen Dhamija|author-link=Jasleen Dhamija | publisher=National Book Trust, India, 1992 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=meAbAAAAIAAJ | quote=''... The simple clay kulhar, which is made in thousands as an inexpensive container for curd, sweets, tea or water, and after being used only once is thrown away, has the same form as those excavated at the Indus Valley or ...''}}</ref> Since ''kulhars'' are made by firing in a [[kiln]] and are almost never reused, they are inherently sterile and hygienic.<ref name="yup26jarey">{{Citation | title=Hanklyn-janklin: a stranger's rumble-tumble guide to some words, customs, and quiddities, Indian and Indo-British | author=Nigel B. Hankin | publisher=Banyan Books, 1997 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E2saAQAAIAAJ | quote=''... For the fussy, on request, the beverage will usually be served in a hand- less, unglazed, disposable earthenware pot, the kulhar, straight from the kiln ...''}}</ref> Bazaars and food stalls in the [[Indian subcontinent]] traditionally served hot beverages, such as tea, in ''kuhlars'', which suffused the beverage with an "''earthy aroma''" that was often considered appealing.<ref name="diz84redeg">{{Citation | title=Storm In A Kulhar | date=August 2, 2004 | newspaper=Outlook India | url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?224684 | quote=''... For those romantic souls who've regretted the loss of that earthy aroma and its replacement by the smell of plastic and detergent, railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is bringing back the bygone era ... kilns that use not only cowdung but also coal and wood. Making kulhars in very large numbers then might lead to soil erosion as well as some environmental pollution ... What comes out first of archaeological excavations? Pots and stuff made of mud. Look at the 5,000-year-old Indus Valley civilisation ...''}}</ref> [[Yogurt|Yoghurt]], hot milk with sugar as well as some regional desserts, such as ''[[kulfi]]'' (traditional ice-cream), are also served in kulhars.<ref name="rij49nowoq">{{Citation | title=Cakes and Desserts | publisher=Bittersweet NYC | access-date=September 4, 2010 | url=http://www.bittersweetnyc.com/cakesndesserts/cakesndesserts.shtml | quote=''... Kulfi (Indian Ice Cream) ... Kulfi in India is traditionally served in Kulhars, unbaked terracotta ...'' | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203836/http://www.bittersweetnyc.com/cakesndesserts/cakesndesserts.shtml | archive-date=March 3, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Kulhars have gradually given way to [[polystyrene]] and [[coated paper]] cups, because the latter are lighter to carry in bulk and cheaper.⁠<ref name="diz84redeg 2">{{Citation | title=Why Laloo's kulhad isn't as green as he makes it out to be | author=Sonu Jain | date=July 6, 2004 | newspaper=Indian Express | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/50438/ | quote=''... Contrary to common perception, the red kulhad takes nearly a decade to return to its natural form ... "The water in the clay disappears and the salts melt into a glassy state and bind together making the clay stronger," said D Chakravorty, ceramic engineer at CGCRI. It takes a while before this salt, exposed to vagaries of nature, decomposes ...''}}</ref>⁠<ref name="tuw52wipow">{{Citation | title=कुल्हड़ में चाय और लस्सी नहीं चली लालू की रेल में (Kulhars for tea and lassi are a flop on Laloo's Railway) | author=Venkatesh Dutta | date=September 4, 2010 | newspaper=Live Hindustan | url=http://www.livehindustan.com/news/1/1/1-1-54588.html | quote=''... वेंडरों को यह महंगा सौदा पड़ा, क्योंकि कुल्हड़ पॉलिथीन के कप से महंगा पड़ रहा था। कुल्हड़ का वजन भी ज्यादा होता है। नतीजा यह हुआ कि फिर पॉलिथीन की कप में चाय बिकने लगी (Vendors found this an expensive deal because kulhars are more expensive than [[plastic cup]]s. Kulhars also weigh more. The result was that tea began selling again in plastic cups.Janta Kulhad a leading manufacturer of kulhad in India and have a wide range of variety which is sold in India and Overseas too ...''}}</ref>