Doorways in the Himalayan and Nepalese context have always been symbolic in oneway or another. A doorway is that point of movement and pause, of transformation in space when moving from one space or room to the other. This is where the door curtains has been commonly used for its convenience but also for its symbolism in some way or the other.
In the cold regions, the door curtains could also work as a mechanism to retain the warmer air inside, thus controlling the current by offering a gentle breeze between the rooms. The doors could remain slightly opened while ensuring privacy, as the doorway curtain does not entirely block the doorway area. Having the cloth material used for the monastery doors could symbolically represent more than aesthetics, as the building is a monastery.
The origin of Himalayan door curtains has much to do with the tradition of textile production in Nepal. Textile production had been the result of local craftsmanship in terms of the skills that people learned through practical experience. Handmade door curtains are created incrementally, whether through the process of hand-weaving on looms, stitching, or appliqué, which takes hours to produce. This process creates minute variations to achieve unique pieces.
Nepali door curtains have some differences when compared to those that can be found in factories. Factory-made products often have uniformity in mind, while handmade ones have the presence of human hands in them. Minor variations in terms of coloration, thread texture, or design show the rhythm of the human hand and not that of the machines. This allows for a lived-in look from the onset when it comes to traditional door curtains.
In practical use, door curtains can be found in many applications. They are hung in residential settings to divide the different areas, meditation chambers where silence is held in esteem, and small commercial ventures such as shops and studios where openness and warmth are desired. Himalayan door curtains can move effortlessly from one setting to another, and with the passage of time, they will become the ambiance that surrounds everyday life, more so through feeling than through sight.
The materials that go into such fabric door hangings are naturally selected because of their resilience and comfort. They are not selected based on fashion. They could be cotton, wool, or a combination that behaves in harmony with nature. The aging process is gradual. The relationship between the two mirrors how such items are designed and utilized. Curtain-like door screens provide a gentle separation, rather than a physical barrier. They define transitions, retain warmth, and evoke a sense of gentle enclosure. Through this unobtrusive service, the humble door screens link the modern home environment to Himalayan heritage and a considerate home design philosophy.
