27/02/2024
The traditional Karen house, called ‘she’, is an elevated dwelling on stilts with sloping thatch that gives protection from the heavy rainfall during the monsoon. The rest of the building is made of wood, cane, bamboo and palm leaves. The shady space under the house is used to keep domesticated animals and as a storehouse or granary. Wooden stairs are always built to have an odd number of steps; this is believed to ward off the evil eye.
The walls of houses are called ‘tarai’ and they are made by weaving long thin strips of bamboo (Gigantochloa andamanica), also known as ‘chatai bamboo’ because it is used for making walls. The wall will last up to five years and then replaced with a new wall.
Umbrella palm 'katola' is used as thatch in traditional Karen houses. These leaves are naturally waterproof and they are stitched together using bamboo twigs. The leaves are dried in the sun, and then tied to the roof using bamboo strings 'takeda'. Typically, a well-tied roof lasts two years and then needs to be replaced. In recent times, corrugated metal sheets have become more widespread because they are economical and last longer.
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