Boti
botidao also known as chulesi, botki, dao, da, aruvamanai, chulesi, pavshi, vili, morli, pahsul or pirdai is a cutting instrument, most prevalent in Nepal, Maharashtra, South India, Bihar, Pakistan and the Bengal region, Bihar, Tripura, the Barak Valley of Assam.
It is a long curved blade that cuts on a platform held down by the foot. Both hands are used to hold whatever is being cut and move it against the blade. The sharper side faces the user. The method gives excellent control over the cutting process and can be used to cut anything from tiny shrimp to large pumpkins.
Variations and names
A larger version of the instrument, with a bigger blade, is used for gutting and cutting fish. Another version of the instrument comprises the Nariyal Khuruchni in the form of a flat round top with sharp small shark-like teeth all around it to serrate coconut. Dao or daa is a variation of boti, which is handheld.The cutting instrument is not unique to Bengal. It is also used in regions throughout Indian subcontinent. It is known by different names in different languages. The names in various Indian languages or region are:
- Bengali: বটি, Kuruni, Dāo/Dā
- Nepali: चुुलेेसी
- Tamil: அரிவாள்மனை/அருவமனை, திருவி
- Kannada: ಈಳಿಗೆಮಣೆ, ತುರಿಯುವ ಮಣೆ/ತುರಿಯಾ ಮಣೆ
- Malayalam: ചിരവ
- Telugu: కత్తిపీట, ఈలపీట
- Konkani: आदोळी
- Marathi: मोरळी, विळी
- Odia: ପନିକି / ପନିଖି, କୋରଣା
- Maithili: হাসু/কত্তা
- Hindi: पिरदाइ, पाहसुल
- Sinhala: හිරමන්ය