Okay, so I wanted to share something I fiddled with recently. It started when I kept seeing these amazing patterns, mostly in pictures from travels or in fancy design magazines. You know, these intricate screens, usually stone or wood, with repeating geometric shapes cut all the way through? Light comes through them, makes cool shadows. I just thought they looked awesome.
For ages, I didn’t even know they had a specific name. I’d just point or describe them like, “those see-through carved wall things” or “the fancy lattice window covers”. Pretty clumsy, right? I tried searching online once, typing things like “geometric pattern screen India” or “carved wood lattice Asia”. Got lots of pictures, yeah, but not really a solid name that stuck, mostly just architectural descriptions.
Finding the Word
Then, I was watching some documentary, I think it was about architecture in India. And boom, someone casually dropped the word: jali. They pointed right at one of those screens I’d been admiring. It clicked instantly. Jali! That was the word for those beautiful, intricate pierced screens.
Knowing the name suddenly made it feel more concrete. It wasn’t just a random pattern anymore; it was a specific craft, a technique with a history. So, “jali in english” isn’t really a direct translation, it’s more like… well, the English word is jali, borrowed into the language. Or you’d describe it as a perforated screen or lattice.
Trying it Out (Sort Of)
Now, I’m not exactly a master craftsman, far from it. But knowing the word made me want to understand it better. I didn’t grab chisels and start carving stone, obviously. But I did spend some time looking really closely at pictures.
- I started sketching some of the patterns, just simple versions, on paper.
- Tried to figure out the repeating elements, how they interlocked.
- Got a feel for how complex they could get, layering shapes and all that.
- Even messed around with some design software, trying to replicate a basic jali effect digitally. Just playing, you know.
It was harder than it looked, even just drawing it. Getting the symmetry right, making sure the ‘holes’ and the ‘solid’ parts worked together visually. It really gave me a new appreciation for the skill involved in making the real things. You need math, art, patience… loads of patience.
What I Reckon Now
So yeah, that was my little journey with understanding ‘jali’. Started with just liking the look, struggled to describe it, finally found the word, and then tried to engage with it a bit more actively, even if just by drawing and looking closer. It’s funny how knowing the right word can open things up. Now when I see a jali screen, I don’t just see a pretty pattern. I see the geometry, the light play, the history, and the incredible skill. It’s more than just a ‘carved screen thingy’ now, that’s for sure.
