Chabutro
Encyclopedia
Chabutro or Chabutaro or Chabutra is a structure mostly found in villages of Gujarat State of India
. It is a tower-like structure with octagonal or pentagonal shaped enclosures at the top. In the upper enclosure are several holes, wherein birds can make their nests. In Gujarat these are constructed at the entrances villages, especially for use and breeding of Pigeons. Inside this structure mostly pigeons reside and breed. Mostly such monuments are found in village centers or at village entrances in the Gujarat & Kutch in India
. At the base of the structure a sitting platform is usually made. The base and the surrounding area of this structure serves as a gathering place for villagers and as a playing area for children.
Another type of Chabutro, which can be seen in Gujarat & Rajasthan have different design and are built only for feeding & resting place for birds & not for breeding purpose. The upper enclosure of such Chabutra are artistically craved and designed like a window of house with conical dome or Chhatri
. For photos of this type of Chabutra see http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iLYApekpvYU/SCrZG36MQiI/AAAAAAAABRQ/ZKiLuR8a70M/s320/027.JPG&imgrefurl=http://indiahistoryspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/chabutra-of-ahmedabad.html&usg=__6U8VKDYG9QWoSMGwqWRWA-gmZ88=&h=320&w=240&sz=13&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=DFG_o3VuuA1_kM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCHABUTRA%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBS_enIN274IN277%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1Chabutro - Ahmedabad]
In English it can vaguely be defined as "Pigeon-Tower" or "Pigeon-hole-tower". Actually, Chabutaro is a word of Gujarati
language. In Gujarati language Pigeon is called Kabutar. The word Chabutro has arrived from word Kabutar, since Chabutaro is specially constructed for use and breeding of Pigeons only in Gujarat. People and specially ladies of Gujarat, belonging to Hindu
faith, consider it auspicious to feed Pigeons. Therefore, this structure is made in villages, where pigeons can live. In early morning, you can find ladies, children and gents alike feeding grains to Pigeons below Chabutro. The Chabutaro is, therefore, usually found in villages dominated or established by Hindu
, Kshatriya
& Brahmin
communities of Gujarat.
For example, In Kutch district of Gujarat, Chabutro can be normally found in almost all villages of Mistris, a Hindu
& Kshatriya
clan, who were themselves master-craftsman and specialized in such construction. For example, Chabutro at Sinugra
in Kutch, the image is shown here.
A famous example of Chabutro found outside Gujrat is in Chhatisgarh. Just outside Raigarh
Railway Station in Chhatisgarh a huge white colored Chabutro is standing as a landmark of the town. The erection of which was done by one Shyamji Gangji Sawaria of town in 1900. He was a famous railway contractor & enterprenuer of Raigarh, founder of Shyam Talkies, who hailed from Mistri
community of Kumbharia
, Kutch.
Chabutro can also be seen in Rajasthan
and Madhya Pradesh
. Here is it called Chabutra. Chabutra is Hindi
language word for Chabutro. In these States of India, it is normally found within Royal Palaces or Temples. But in States other than Gujarat, the Chabutra is not made exclusively for Pigeon but used for all type of birds. Although, in Hindi a pigeon is also called Kabutar.
The word Chabutra or Chabutro is also sometimes used to indicate a sitting platform, usually under a tree or beside any water-body like lake, pond, etc. But commonly it is used to indicate the tower-like structure explained above.
External links: http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iLYApekpvYU/SCrZG36MQiI/AAAAAAAABRQ/ZKiLuR8a70M/s320/027.JPG&imgrefurl=http://indiahistoryspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/chabutra-of-ahmedabad.html&usg=__6U8VKDYG9QWoSMGwqWRWA-gmZ88=&h=320&w=240&sz=13&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=DFG_o3VuuA1_kM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCHABUTRA%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBS_enIN274IN277%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1Chabutro - Ahmedabad]
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is a tower-like structure with octagonal or pentagonal shaped enclosures at the top. In the upper enclosure are several holes, wherein birds can make their nests. In Gujarat these are constructed at the entrances villages, especially for use and breeding of Pigeons. Inside this structure mostly pigeons reside and breed. Mostly such monuments are found in village centers or at village entrances in the Gujarat & Kutch in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. At the base of the structure a sitting platform is usually made. The base and the surrounding area of this structure serves as a gathering place for villagers and as a playing area for children.
Another type of Chabutro, which can be seen in Gujarat & Rajasthan have different design and are built only for feeding & resting place for birds & not for breeding purpose. The upper enclosure of such Chabutra are artistically craved and designed like a window of house with conical dome or Chhatri
Chhatri
Chhatris are elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indian architecture. Chhatris are commonly used to depict the elements of of pride and honor in the Rajput architecture of Rajasthan. They are widely used, in palaces, in forts, or to demarcate funerary sites...
. For photos of this type of Chabutra see http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iLYApekpvYU/SCrZG36MQiI/AAAAAAAABRQ/ZKiLuR8a70M/s320/027.JPG&imgrefurl=http://indiahistoryspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/chabutra-of-ahmedabad.html&usg=__6U8VKDYG9QWoSMGwqWRWA-gmZ88=&h=320&w=240&sz=13&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=DFG_o3VuuA1_kM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCHABUTRA%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBS_enIN274IN277%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1Chabutro - Ahmedabad]
In English it can vaguely be defined as "Pigeon-Tower" or "Pigeon-hole-tower". Actually, Chabutaro is a word of Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
language. In Gujarati language Pigeon is called Kabutar. The word Chabutro has arrived from word Kabutar, since Chabutaro is specially constructed for use and breeding of Pigeons only in Gujarat. People and specially ladies of Gujarat, belonging to Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
faith, consider it auspicious to feed Pigeons. Therefore, this structure is made in villages, where pigeons can live. In early morning, you can find ladies, children and gents alike feeding grains to Pigeons below Chabutro. The Chabutaro is, therefore, usually found in villages dominated or established by Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
& Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
communities of Gujarat.
For example, In Kutch district of Gujarat, Chabutro can be normally found in almost all villages of Mistris, a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
& Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
clan, who were themselves master-craftsman and specialized in such construction. For example, Chabutro at Sinugra
Sinugra
Sinugra or Shinoogra or Sinogra or Sinougra is a village near the town of Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is located 7 km from the nearest city Anjar...
in Kutch, the image is shown here.
A famous example of Chabutro found outside Gujrat is in Chhatisgarh. Just outside Raigarh
Raigarh
Raigarh is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Raigarh district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. It is the administrative headquarter of Raigarh district.-History:...
Railway Station in Chhatisgarh a huge white colored Chabutro is standing as a landmark of the town. The erection of which was done by one Shyamji Gangji Sawaria of town in 1900. He was a famous railway contractor & enterprenuer of Raigarh, founder of Shyam Talkies, who hailed from Mistri
Mistri
Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....
community of Kumbharia
Kumbharia
Kumbharia or Kumbhariyu is village in Anjar Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is situated at a distance of 14 km from Anjar town & Taluka Headquarter.-History:...
, Kutch.
Chabutro can also be seen in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
and Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
. Here is it called Chabutra. Chabutra is Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
language word for Chabutro. In these States of India, it is normally found within Royal Palaces or Temples. But in States other than Gujarat, the Chabutra is not made exclusively for Pigeon but used for all type of birds. Although, in Hindi a pigeon is also called Kabutar.
The word Chabutra or Chabutro is also sometimes used to indicate a sitting platform, usually under a tree or beside any water-body like lake, pond, etc. But commonly it is used to indicate the tower-like structure explained above.
External links: http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iLYApekpvYU/SCrZG36MQiI/AAAAAAAABRQ/ZKiLuR8a70M/s320/027.JPG&imgrefurl=http://indiahistoryspeaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/chabutra-of-ahmedabad.html&usg=__6U8VKDYG9QWoSMGwqWRWA-gmZ88=&h=320&w=240&sz=13&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=DFG_o3VuuA1_kM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCHABUTRA%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBS_enIN274IN277%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1Chabutro - Ahmedabad]