Indian Traditional Stove (Chula) Experiments

In the previous parts, I shared how I sourced traditional pottery and natural stone grinders. Now, the focus shifted to finding the perfect Indian traditional stove, or Chula. The challenge, however, was that handmade Chulas were no longer widely available. After visiting several places like Chinchwad Kumbhar Ali, Shivajinagar, Nigdi, and Wagholi, I discovered that most Chulas are now made using molds, often mixed with other ingredients and chemicals.

While some villages still produce handmade Chulas, the logistics of transporting them posed a significant challenge. Additionally, I wanted to modify the traditional design to reduce smoke and wood consumption. Faced with these challenges, I decided to take matters into my own hands and build the Chula myself.

Designing the Chula: I started by considering key aspects like raising the wood slightly off the ground to ensure a steady oxygen supply, which would reduce smoke. Adding a small fan on one side would further help in smoke reduction. Finally, I planned an external vent to allow the smoke to escape, preventing it from causing discomfort to the person cooking.

The First Attempts: My first attempt involved making a Chula using a mix of cow dung and lime, materials known for their breathability. Initially, everything seemed fine, but soon the outer layer began to burn.

In my second attempt, I used black clay, which worked for a few days but soon started cracking. I tried red clay next, but the same issue occurred—cracks appeared after just a few days. Even mixing black and red soil didn’t yield a durable Chula.

The Solution: Realizing that I needed more traditional knowledge, I visited several villages and spoke with elders who still used traditional Chulas. An elderly grandmother shared a valuable tip: Traditional Chulas should always be made from white clay.

But where could I find this white clay? It turns out that white clay was once used to build old Vadas (traditional Indian houses). However, most Vadas have been demolished and replaced with modern slab houses. After much searching, I discovered that my supposed brother had an old Vada on his farm. On my request, he generously provided the white soil.

Building the Chula: The white soil was carefully sifted twice, once through a sieve and once by hand, to remove any larger pebbles. The soil was then soaked in water, dried, and kneaded until it reached a buttery consistency.

We prepared a bahule—a Chula-shaped square platform—on which the Chula would be built. To prevent air from causing cracks, we sealed the bahule with two or three sacks. Every day, the bahule was compressed from all sides using a heavy copper lota (vessel).

Finally, once the Chula was ready, we performed a small worship ceremony before lighting it for the first time. The first meal prepared on this Chula was a sweet dish, marking the successful completion of our experiment.

Thank you!

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