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{{About|the Indian architectural element|West African jali poets|Griot}}
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[[File:Akbar tomb 2.jpg|thumb|''Jali'' screens in the [[tomb of Akbar the Great]] near [[Agra]], [[India]]]]
A '''''jali''''' or '''jaali''' (''jālī'', meaning "net") is the term for a perforated stone or [[latticework|lattice]]d [[Window screen|screen]], usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use of [[calligraphy]], [[geometry]] or natural patterns. This form of architectural decoration is common in [[Indo-Islamic architecture]] and more generally in [[Islamic architecture]].<ref name="Lerner156">Lerner, p. 156</ref>

According to Yatin Pandya, the ''jali'' allows light and air while minimizing the sun and the rain. Also when the air passes through these openings, its velocity increases giving profound diffusion.<ref name="Pandya">Pandya</ref>{{clarify|date=August 2019}} The holes are often nearly of the same width or smaller than the thickness of the stone, thus providing structural strength. It has been observed that humid areas like [[Kerala]] and [[Konkan]] have larger holes with overall lower opacity than compared with the dry climate regions of [[Gujarat]] and [[Rajasthan]].<ref name="Pandya"/>


With the widespread use of glass in the late 19th century, and compactness of the residential areas in the modern India, ''jalis'' became less frequent for privacy and security matters.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-propertyplus/the-multifunctional-jaali/article1138372.ece | title=The multi-functional jaali | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=30 January 2011 | access-date=18 January 2016 | author=Satyaprakash Varanashi}}</ref>

== History ==
Basic rectangular Jali stone work is seen at the Gupta period [[Nachna Hindu temples]] and the post Gupta [[Pattadakal]] temples. In China wood lattice work developed during the Han dynasty, the tradition has continued in modern Chinese architecture.<ref>[https://atcm.mathandtech.org/EP2009/papers_invited/2812009_17224.pdf A Journey through Chinese Windows and Doors – an Introduction to Chinese Mathematical Art, Miroslaw Majewski, Jiyan Wang, Fourteenth Asian Technology Conference in Mathematics, 17 - 21 December, 2009]</ref> Sanskrit texts on architecture Silpa (650 AD), Samarangana-Sutradhara of King Bhoja (1018-1054 AD), Kāśyapā-Śilpā (1300) and Śilpā-Ratnam of sixteenth century mention or discuss jalis.<ref>[https://www.ijhssnet.com/journal/index/3457 Masooma Abbas, Ornamental Jālīs of the Mughals and Their Precursors, Int. Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 6, No. 3; March 2016, p. 135-147]</ref>

Early ''jali'' work with multiple geometric shapes was built by carving into stone, in [[Islamic geometric patterns|geometric patterns]],\ first appears in the [[Alai Darwaza]] of 1305 at Delhi besides the [[Qutub Minar]], while later the [[Mughals]] used very finely carved plant-based designs, as at the [[Taj Mahal]]. They also often added [[pietra dura]] inlay to the surrounds, using marble and [[semi-precious]] stones.<ref name="Lerner156"/><ref name="Thapar">{{cite book|author=Thapar, Bindia |year=2004 |title=Introduction to Indian architecture |place=Singapore |publisher= Tuttle Publishing |pages= 81 |isbn=9781462906420 }}</ref>

In the Gwalior fort, near the Urwahi gate, there is a 17 line inscription dated Samvat 1553, mentioning names of some craftsmen and their creations. One of them is Khedu, who was an expert in "Gwaliyai jhilmili" i.e. jali screen crafted in the Gwalior style.<ref>Hariharnivas Dvidedi, Gwalior ke Tomar, 1976, p. 378-380</ref> The Mughal period tomb of [[Muhammad Ghaus]] built in 1565 AD at Gwalior is remarkable for its stone jalis. <ref>[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00004-016-0316-6 Nonperiodic Octagonal Patterns from a Jali Screen in the Mausoleum of Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior and Their Periodic Relatives, Emil Makovicky & Nicolette M. Makovicky ,Nexus Network Journal volume 19, pages 101–120 (2017)]</ref>Many of the Gwalior's 19th century houses used stone jalis. Jalis are used extensively in Gwalior's [[Usha Kiran Palace]] Hotel, formerly Scindia's guest house.

==Museum collections==
Some of the jalis are in major museums in USA and Europe. These include Indianapolis Museum of Art <ref>[https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/52272397/ JALI PANEL (INDIA), LATE 19TH CENTURY]</ref> and Metropolitan Museum of Art<ref>[https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/453241 Pierced Window Screen (Jali) early 17th century]</ref> and Victoria and
Albert Museum.<ref>[https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O430678/one-of-twenty-nine-drawings-drawing-unknown/ Drawing
ca.1882 (made)]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Girih]]
* [[Jharokha]]
* [[Openwork]]
* [[Venturi effect]]

==Illustrations==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Nachna Parvati-Tempel Jali 1999.JPG| Nachna Parvati-Temple Jali, Gupta period
File:Pattadakal 19.jpg|Pattadakal window
File:Pattadakal 16.jpg|another window at Pattadakal
File:Pattadakal Virupaksa. Mandapa north wall, east side. Right window.JPG|Pattadakal Virupaksa temple window
File:Jala stone trellis windows Indian architecture.jpg|Chola temple
File:Window at Alai Darwaza, Qutb complex.jpg|thumb|Window at Alai Darwaza, Qutb complex
File:Sidi Saiyyad Ni Jaali.jpg|''Jali'' in [[Sidi Saiyyed mosque]] in [[Ahmedabad]] exhibiting traditional Indian tree of life motif
File:Salim Chishti Tomb-2.jpg|''Jali'' at [[Tomb of Salim Chishti]], [[Fatehpur Sikri]] shows Islamic geometric patterns developed in western asia
File:Taj Inside 1.jpg|Details of marble ''Jali'' screens around royal [[cenotaph]]s, [[Taj Mahal]]
File:Bibi-Ka-Maqbara- net.jpg|''Jali'' at [[Bibi Ka Maqbara]], [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]] with typical Indian motifs
File:Doors Champaner-Pavagadh.jpg|Jali at [[Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park|Champaner]] utilize traditional indian geometric patterns and Islamic geometry
File:Mohammad Gaus Tomb Gwalior - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Jalis in [[Muhammad Ghawth|Mohammad Gaus Tomb]] [[Gwalior]]
File:P 306--Winter India.jpg|19th century houses in [[Gwalior]]
</gallery>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* Lerner, Martin (ed), [http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/105494 The Flame and the Lotus: Indian and Southeast Asian Art from the Kronos Collections], an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Jali (no. 60), [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=c59UogZeXFYC&pg=PA156&dq=jali+screen&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zzJnVeryLanmsAS-hIKgBg&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=jali%20screen&f=false google books]
* Pandya, Yatin, [http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-yatin-pandya-on-jaali-as-a-traditional-element-1599623 Yatin Pandya on 'jaali' as a traditional element, [[Daily News and Analysis]], 16 October 2011, access-date=18 January 2016]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Jali}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041222145653/http://archnet.org/library/dictionary/entry.tcl?entry_id=DIA0400 ArchNet Dictionary of Islamic Architecture: Jali]

{{Islamic architecture}}
{{Islamic art}}
{{Mathematics and art}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Indian architectural styles]]
[[Category:Mughal architecture]]
[[Category:Islamic architectural elements]]
[[Category:Islamic architecture]]
[[Category:Architectural elements]]

Jali - Revision history

2A00:23C5:FE18:2700:6DAD:3E84:A7E6:CB63 at 12:55, 9 October 2021