Pulhoer

Last updated • 1 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Pulhoer, variously spelled pulhoor, pulhord, pulhour, or pulhor, is an ancient traditional straw footwear of Kashmir, bearing similarities to chappal or slippers, but unlike sandals, pulhoer is plain, lacks heels, and therefore differs from sandals. One type of traditional kashmiri straw footwear is also known as khraav. The shoes were/ are homemade by Kashmir artisans by weaving straw rope in a particular manner.

Contents

They were widely used by Kashmiris in ancient times especially during winter season. [1] The pulhoer straw footwear was one of the traditional tools for dealing with the cold of Kashmir's winter, like (still are) also the kanger, the portable heating-pot, and the coatlike garment pheran.

They were primarily used by people to protect their feet from snow due to poverty and unavailability of modern footwear in the region, but since there was a lack of modern garments, people also used them for protection against thorny bushes and pebbles in forests; however they are unstable or unusable in the rainy season due to flow of rain through their pores. [2]

History

The exact place and date of origin of the pulhoer straw footwear is not known. It is part of the traditional culture of Kashmir, having been extensively used there before industrialisation. Following productivity-improving technologies, mechanization and economic improvement, pulhoer began to disappear from the region. The tradition still exists in remote areas. [2]

Structure

Pulhoer are entirely made of straw, which makes them unusable in the wet season.

Khraav, another type of pulhoer, are also made of straw, but have soles made of wood or pareve, preventing slipping on snow. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Footwear</span> Garments worn on feet

Footwear refers to garments worn on the feet, which typically serve the purpose of protection against adversities of the environment such as wear from rough ground; stability on slippery ground; and temperature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slipper</span> Informal footwear

Slippers are a type of shoes falling under the broader category of light footwear, that are easy to put on and off and are intended to be worn indoors, particularly at home. They provide comfort and protection for the feet when walking indoors. They are not really for use outside, as of their lack of grip, and waterproofing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flip-flops</span> Type of sandal

Flip-flops are a type of light sandal-like shoe, typically worn as a form of casual footwear. They consist of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y-shaped strap known as a toe thong that passes between the first and second toes and around both sides of the foot. This style of footwear has been worn by people of many cultures throughout the world, originating as early as the ancient Egyptians in 1500 BC. In the United States the modern flip-flop may have had its design taken from the traditional Japanese zōri after World War II, as soldiers brought them back from Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zori</span> Flat Japanese sandals similar to flip-flops

Zori, also rendered as zōri, are thonged Japanese sandals made of rice straw, cloth, lacquered wood, leather, rubber, or—most commonly and informally—synthetic materials. They are a slip-on descendant of the tied-on waraji sandal.

<i>Geta</i> (footwear) Traditional Japanese open-topped wooden shoes

Geta are traditional Japanese footwear resembling flip-flops. A kind of sandal, geta have a flat wooden base elevated with up to three "teeth", held on the foot with a fabric thong, which keeps the foot raised above the ground.

<i>Waraji</i> Tie-on Japanese straw sandals

Waraji are light tie-on sandals, made from ropemaking fibers, that were the standard footwear of the common people in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandal</span> Type of footwear with an open upper

Sandals are an open type of shoe, consisting of a sole held to the wearer's foot by straps going over the instep and around the ankle. Sandals can also have a heel. While the distinction between sandals and other types of footwear can sometimes be blurry, the common understanding is that a sandal leaves all or most of the foot exposed. People may choose to wear sandals for several reasons, among them comfort in warm weather, economy, and as a fashion choice. Usually, people wear sandals in warmer climates or during warmer parts of the year in order to keep their feet cool and dry. The risk of developing athlete's foot is lower than with enclosed shoes, and the wearing of sandals may be part of the treatment regimen for such an infection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Jammu and Kashmir</span>

Music of Jammu and Kashmir reflects a rich musical heritage and cultural legacy of the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Two different regions of Jammu and Kashmir consists the Jammu region and Kashmir Valley. Music of Kashmir Valley has influences of Central Asian music while music from Jammu region is similar to that of other regions of North India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mukluk</span> Soft boot worn by Arctic peoples

Mukluks or kamik are soft boots, traditionally made of reindeer (caribou) skin or sealskin, and worn by Indigenous Arctic peoples, including Inuit, Iñupiat, and Yup'ik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kashmiri cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Kashmir

Kashmiri cuisine is the cuisine of the Kashmir Valley. The cuisine has strong influences from neighbouring regions in central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Rice has been a staple food in Kashmir since ancient times. The equivalent for the phrase "bread and butter" in Kashmiri is haakh-batte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romanian traditional clothing</span> Traditional clothing of Romanians

Romanian traditional clothing refers to the national costume worn by Romanians, who live primarily in Romania and Moldova, with smaller communities in Ukraine and Serbia. Today, the vast majority of Romanians wear modern-style dress on most occasions, and the garments described here largely fell out of use during the 20th century. However, they can still be seen in more remote areas, on special occasions, and at ethnographic and folk events. Each historical region has its own specific variety of costumes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanger</span> Earthen pot used by Kashmiris against cold

A kanger is an earthen pot woven around with wicker filled with hot embers used by Kashmiris beneath their traditional clothing pheran to keep the chill at bay, which is also regarded as a work of art. It is normally kept inside the Pheran, the Kashmiri cloak, or inside a blanket. It is mostly used in the cold nights of Chillai Kalan. If a person is wearing a jacket, it may be used as a hand warmer. It is about 6 inches (150 mm) in diameter and reaches a temperature of about 150 °F (66 °C). It comes in different variants, small ones for children and large ones for adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Kashmir</span>

The culture of Kashmir encompasses the spoken language, written literature, cuisine, architecture, traditions, and history of the Kashmiri people native to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The culture of Kashmir was influenced by the Persian as well as Central Asian cultures after the Islamic rule of Kashmir. Kashmiri culture is influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism and later by Islam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salwar</span> Traditional loose trousers in South Asia

Salwar or shalwar is cloth worn from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately. It is the lower-garment of the shalwar kameez suit which is widely-worn in South Asia. It is known for its lively hues, rich fabrics, and embroidery. The outfit has been a part of Punjabi tradition of India and Pakistan for centuries. It is also the national dress of Pakistan, and since the later 1960s, the salwar is being used in government offices in Pakistan. Salwar can be distinguished from the Punjabi suthan which is shorter than the salwar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pheran</span> Kashmiri traditional dress

Pheran or Phiran is the traditional outfit for both males and females in Kashmir.

Upanah (Sanskrit) is an ancient form of footwear from India. The term is used to refer to several types of strapped sandals and shoes employed by common people, in contrast to monks and mendicants who would use paduka instead. The word comes from the Sansakrit root nah, meaning "to tie", "to bind", to "fasten", as well as pad, meaning "foot". Combined words like charan-upanah might have originated modern words like "chappal".

Chillai Kalan or Chilla-i-Kalan is the local name given to 40 day period of harsh winter in Kashmir. It is the coldest part of winter, starting from 21 December to January 29 every year.

Wagoo, also spelled as waguv, and known by the variant name patig, is a Kashmiri traditional mat crafted from reed and rice straw, predominantly using Typha angustifolia, a grass commonly found near water bodies such as ponds, lakes, and drainage channels. Artisans who craft wagoo are referred to as "wagoo weavers". This practice is one of the oldest traditions of the Kashmir Valley and has been a part of its culture for nearly 300 years.

Pheran Day is celebrated in Kashmir on 21 December as first day of Chillai Kalan.

References

  1. "110-year-old Kashmiri man makes chappals with straw to keep a tradition alive". India Today. 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  2. 1 2 Life, Kashmir (2011-03-14). "Hay days". Kashmir Life. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  3. Naqushbandi, Ubeer (2019-01-11). "When winter used to be a delightful and productive season". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 2022-01-09.