Context:
Article in The Hindu – ‘Jali’ as a symbol of syncretic India.
About Jali tradition:
- The term jaali means “net”.
- Used in Central and South Asia.
- Cut from marble or red sandstone in ornamental patterns
- A distinct architectural feature in India between the 16th and 18th Centuries.
- Zenith of jali tradition – Shah Jahan’s reign
- Jalis surrounded by complex inlay work influenced by the Italian pietra dura style.
- Jaali’s cooling feature relies on the Venturi effect in a similar way to an air conditioning unit.
- “When air passes through holes, it picks up velocity and penetrates afar. Due to the small apertures, the air gets compressed and when released it gets cooler”.
- Some architectural examples –
- Taj Mahal and Mumtaz Mahal
- Hawa Mahal or Wind Palace, built in 1799 by Rajput rulers in Jaipur
- Neminath temple in Gujarat
- Ibrahim Adil Shah’s tomb in Bijapur
- Krishna temple in Vrindavan
- Tomb of Salim Chishti
- Fatehpur Sikri
- Jali is seen in Pattadakal Virupaksha temple and Chola architecture.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims
(a) Chalukya
(b) Chandela
(c) Rashtrakuta
(d) Vijayanagara
Answer: (d)
