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{{short description|Instrument for cutting fruit, vegetables, fish and meat, most prevalent in the Bengal region of India}}
{{italictitle}}
[[File:Boti with coconut grater.JPG|thumb|On the left, a coconut grater known as ''Nariyal Khuruchni'' and on the right a regular Boti used to cut fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, etc.]]
{{for|people named Boti|Boti (given name)}}
'''Boti''', Dao, Da, Chulesi, or Pirdai ({{lang-bn|বঁটি}} ; also transliterated '''Bonti''' or '''Bnoti''' or  [[Nepali language|Nepali]] : चुलेसी; Chulesi, Bhojpuri : Hasua) is a cutting instrument,<ref>{{cite journal|first= Banerji|last= Chitrita|journal= Gastronomica|date=Spring 2001|pages= 23–26|volume=1|issue=2|title= The Bengali Bonti|doi= 10.1525/gfc.2001.1.2.23}}</ref> most prevalent in the country [[Nepal]], [[Bihar]], [[Bengal region]]<ref name="Dasgupta2000">{{cite book|author=M Dasgupta|title=Calcutta Cookbook: A Treasury of Recipes From Pavement to Place|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NQltAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT39|date=14 October 2000|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-93-5118-149-1|pages=39–}}</ref> a region in eastern part of the [[Indian subcontinent]],<ref name="Dasgupta2000"/> which is now divided between the [[Indian states]] of [[West Bengal]], [[Bihar]], [[Tripura]], and [[Barak Valley]] of [[Assam]] and the independent country of [[Bangladesh]] .
{{Short description|South Asian cutting implement}}{{Infobox tool|name=''Boti''|image=Boti with coconut grater.JPG|caption=''Nariyal khuruchni'' (left) and regular ''boti'' (right)|types=Kitchen knife|other_name=''Chulesi'', ''da'', ''dao'', ''hasua''|classification=[[Knife]]|uses=Cutting meat, fish and vegetables}}


A boti is a long curved blade that cuts on a platform held down by foot. Both hands are used to hold whatever is being cut and move it against the blade. The sharper side faces the user.<ref>{{Citation|last=WildFilmsIndia|title=Women cutting vegetables at a Bengali wedding - India|date=2015-02-19|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky713rmjorA|accessdate=2017-07-26}}</ref> The method gives excellent control over the cutting process and can be used to cut anything from tiny shrimp to large pumpkins.
'''''botidao''''' also known as '''''chulesi''''', '''''botki''''', '''''dao''''', '''''da''''', '''''aruvamanai''''', '''''chulesi''''', '''''pavshi''''', '''''vili''''', '''''morli''''', '''''pahsul''''' or '''''pirdai''''' is a cutting instrument,<ref>{{cite journal|first= Banerji|last= Chitrita|journal= Gastronomica|date=Spring 2001|pages= 23–26|volume=1|issue=2|title= The Bengali Bonti|doi= 10.1525/gfc.2001.1.2.23}}</ref> most prevalent in [[Nepal]], [[Maharashtra]], [[South India]], [[Bihar]], [[Pakistan]] and the [[Bengal region]],<ref name="Dasgupta2000">{{cite book|author=Dasgupta, M.|title=Calcutta Cookbook: A Treasury of Recipes From Pavement to Place|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NQltAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT39|date=14 October 2000|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-93-5118-149-1|pages=39–|access-date=18 August 2023|archive-date=18 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818161024/https://books.google.com/books?id=NQltAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT39|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bihar]], [[Tripura]], the [[Barak Valley]] of [[Assam]].


==Variations==
It is a long curved blade that cuts on a platform held down by the foot. Both hands are used to hold whatever is being cut and move it against the blade. The sharper side faces the user.<ref>{{Citation|last=WildFilmsIndia|title=Women cutting vegetables at a Bengali wedding – India|date=2015-02-19|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky713rmjorA|accessdate=2017-07-26|archive-date=2020-02-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215105448/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky713rmjorA&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> The method gives excellent control over the cutting process and can be used to cut anything from tiny shrimp to large pumpkins.
A larger version of the boti, with a bigger blade, is used for gutting and cutting fish. Another version of the boti comprises the ''Nariyal Khuruchni'' (coconut grater) in the form of a flat round top with sharp small shark-like teeth all around it to serrate coconut. ''Dao'' or ''daa'' (a more prevalent name in Bangladesh, specifically [[Chittagong Division|Chittagong]] and [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet]]) is a variation of boti, which is handheld.


The cutting instrument is not unique to Bengal. It is well known in Maharashtra and South India also. The names in South India are in Tamil: Arivalmanai or Aruvamanai, Telugu: Kathipeeta, Konkani: Addili, Marathi: Vili or Morli, Odiya: Panikhi, Bihar: Pirdai etc. It is known as Chulesi in Nepal(चुलेसी) and used to chop vegetables mainly in the rural areas of Nepal.
==Variations and names==
A larger version of the instrument, with a bigger blade, is used for gutting and cutting fish. Another version of the instrument comprises the ''Nariyal Khuruchni'' (coconut grater) in the form of a flat round top with sharp small shark-like teeth all around it to serrate coconut. ''Dao'' or ''daa'' (one of many variants called in Bangladesh, specifically [[Chittagong Division|Chittagong]] and [[Sylhet Division|Sylhet]]) is a variation of boti, which is handheld.


It is basically for the cooks to sit comfortably on the floor and cut vegetables and meat with one leg folded on the wooden base and the other leg stretched. The coconut scraper is in all states mentioned above who produce and use more coconuts in the cuisine.
The cutting instrument is not unique to [[Bengal]]. It is also used in regions throughout [[Indian subcontinent]]. It is known by different names in different languages. The names in various Indian languages or region are:


* [[Bengali language|Bengali]]: বটি (''Boṭi''), Kuruni (''কুরুনি''- coconut grater), Dāo/Dā (''দাও/দা'' - hand-held)
* [[Nepali language|Nepali]]: चुुलेेसी (''Chulesi'')
* [[Tamil language|Tamil]]: அரிவாள்மனை/அருவமனை (''Arivāḷmaṇai''/''Aruvamaṇai''), திருவி (''Tiruvi'' - coconut grater)
* [[Kannada language|Kannada]]: ಈಳಿಗೆಮಣೆ (''Īḷige Maṇe''), ತುರಿಯುವ ಮಣೆ/ತುರಿಯಾ ಮಣೆ (''Turiyuva Maṇe/Turiyā Maṇe'' - coconut grater)
* [[Malayalam]]: ചിരവ (''Chirava'')
* [[Telugu language|Telugu]]: కత్తిపీట (''Kattipīṭa''), ఈలపీట (''Ēlapīṭa'')
* [[Konkani language|Konkani]]: आदोळी (''Ādoḷi'')
* [[Marathi language|Marathi]]:  मोरळी (''Morḷi''), विळी (''Viḷi''- coconut grater)
* [[Odia language|Odia]]: ପନିକି / ପନିଖି (''[[Paniki (cutting instrument)|Paniki]]''/''[[Panikhi]]''),  କୋରଣା (''Koråṇā'' - coconut grater)
* [[Maithili language|Maithili]]: হাসু/কত্তা (''Hāsu/Kattā'')
* [[Hindi]]: पिरदाइ (''Pirdāi''), पाहसुल (''Pāhsul'')
* [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]]: හිරමන්‍ය (''Hiramanya'' - coconut grater)
== Purpose ==
It is designed for the cooks to sit comfortably on the floor and cut vegetables and meat with one leg folded on the wooden base and the other leg stretched. The coconut scraper is in all states mentioned above who produce and use more coconuts in the cuisine.
==See also==
==See also==
*[[Dao (Naga sword)]]
*[[Dao (Naga sword)]]
*[[Dao (Chinese sword)]]
*[[Dha (sword)]]
*[[Dha (sword)]]
*[[Kukri|Khukri (Nepali sword)]]
*[[Kukri|Khukri]]  
*[[Sickle|Hasiya (Sickle)]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 19:56, 10 September 2025

For people named Boti, see Boti (given name).
Boti
Nariyal khuruchni (left) and regular boti (right)
Other namesChulesi, da, dao, hasua
ClassificationKnife
UsesCutting meat, fish and vegetables
TypesKitchen knife

botidao also known as chulesi, botki, dao, da, aruvamanai, chulesi, pavshi, vili, morli, pahsul or pirdai is a cutting instrument,[1] most prevalent in Nepal, Maharashtra, South India, Bihar, Pakistan and the Bengal region,[2] Bihar, Tripura, the Barak Valley of Assam.

It is a long curved blade that cuts on a platform held down by the foot. Both hands are used to hold whatever is being cut and move it against the blade. The sharper side faces the user.[3] The method gives excellent control over the cutting process and can be used to cut anything from tiny shrimp to large pumpkins.

Variations and names[edit | edit source]

A larger version of the instrument, with a bigger blade, is used for gutting and cutting fish. Another version of the instrument comprises the Nariyal Khuruchni (coconut grater) in the form of a flat round top with sharp small shark-like teeth all around it to serrate coconut. Dao or daa (one of many variants called in Bangladesh, specifically Chittagong and Sylhet) is a variation of boti, which is handheld.

The cutting instrument is not unique to Bengal. It is also used in regions throughout Indian subcontinent. It is known by different names in different languages. The names in various Indian languages or region are:

  • Bengali: বটি (Boṭi), Kuruni (কুরুনি- coconut grater), Dāo/Dā (দাও/দা - hand-held)
  • Nepali: चुुलेेसी (Chulesi)
  • Tamil: அரிவாள்மனை/அருவமனை (Arivāḷmaṇai/Aruvamaṇai), திருவி (Tiruvi - coconut grater)
  • Kannada: ಈಳಿಗೆಮಣೆ (Īḷige Maṇe), ತುರಿಯುವ ಮಣೆ/ತುರಿಯಾ ಮಣೆ (Turiyuva Maṇe/Turiyā Maṇe - coconut grater)
  • Malayalam: ചിരവ (Chirava)
  • Telugu: కత్తిపీట (Kattipīṭa), ఈలపీట (Ēlapīṭa)
  • Konkani: आदोळी (Ādoḷi)
  • Marathi: मोरळी (Morḷi), विळी (Viḷi- coconut grater)
  • Odia: ପନିକି / ପନିଖି (Paniki/Panikhi), କୋରଣା (Koråṇā - coconut grater)
  • Maithili: হাসু/কত্তা (Hāsu/Kattā)
  • Hindi: पिरदाइ (Pirdāi), पाहसुल (Pāhsul)
  • Sinhala: හිරමන්‍ය (Hiramanya - coconut grater)

Purpose[edit | edit source]

It is designed for the cooks to sit comfortably on the floor and cut vegetables and meat with one leg folded on the wooden base and the other leg stretched. The coconut scraper is in all states mentioned above who produce and use more coconuts in the cuisine.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Chitrita, Banerji (Spring 2001). "The Bengali Bonti". Gastronomica. 1 (2): 23–26. doi:10.1525/gfc.2001.1.2.23.
  2. ↑ Dasgupta, M. (14 October 2000). Calcutta Cookbook: A Treasury of Recipes From Pavement to Place. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 39–. ISBN 978-93-5118-149-1. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  3. ↑ WildFilmsIndia (2015-02-19), Women cutting vegetables at a Bengali wedding – India, archived from the original on 2020-02-15, retrieved 2017-07-26
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