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In the hills of Uttarakhand, the centuries-old craft of Likhai — intricate wood carving on doors, windows, and household panels — is fading fast. Once integral to Kumaoni architecture and daily life, Likhai embodied stories of faith, flora, and local identity. But with migration, declining patronage, and cheap machine-made alternatives, artisans are struggling to survive. Likhai’s decline mirrors the larger crisis of India’s vanishing handmade traditions, where economic neglect and changing tastes threaten the survival of its living heritage.
Once upon a time, as recently as 25 years ago, the doors and windows of homes in villages across Uttarakhand were crafted in this traditional style, featuring intricate wood carvings. Likhai became integral to Kumaoni architecture and daily life.
For centuries, Likhai was an essential part of life in Uttarakhand. Most homes across the region’s hillside villages featured doorframes carved with peacocks, floral bands on windows, and miniature gods placed into niche altars. The motifs were often a blend of Himalayan flora with Hindu and local symbols, each piece bearing the maker’s mark.
With the changing tides of time, however, this indigenous craft tradition is gradually fading away. As younger generations leave for cities and towns, builders opt for plain concrete and modern, prefabricated furnishings, and inexpensive machine-made panels flood markets, these ornate handcrafted woodworks are gradually disappearing.
This loss goes far beyond economics. Once, Likhai carvings preserved patterns of life in the Kumaon — such as seasonal festivals, caste customs, and local stories that once united these communities. Replacing a carved lintel with a mass-produced slab erases a living archive of generational knowledge and regional identity. For Uttarakhand’s hill communities, which are already facing challenges from migration and shifting land use, the disappearance of Likhai represents yet another strand of their way of life unravelling from the pressures of progress.
Similar stories are occurring across India. Traditional crafts, which once supported local economies and preserved cultural heritage, are declining due to urbanisation, industrial growth, and international design trends. Efforts by government and NGOS — such as craft clusters, design workshops, and tourism partnerships — have shown mixed success. But to revive a craft like Likhai, more than subsidies are needed: it requires access to sustainable markets, respectful apprenticeships, and buyers who appreciate the meticulous patience of handcrafted work.
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