Chamaram, chauri, chowrie or flying whisk, is a type of fan in Hindu religion. It is generally used in the worship of a god or goddesses in Hinduism.
Chowrie is made using the hair from the tail of cow, breed of cow found in the Himalayan region.
References of Chamaram are found in the works of Kalidasa and Amarakosha.
It is believed that apart from gods and goddesses, Chamaram was also used by kings and nobles. It was used by people as a status symbol.
The use of Chowrie was not part of the Shodashopachara in Hindu temple worship – the 16 services in a worship of deity). Fanning with chamaram and holding chatra (an umbrella) was later added to worship of deities in Hindu temples, homes and sacred places.
- The fans made of the Himalayan cow are white in color.
- Fans made using cow from the Vindhyas are black in color.
- Chamaram made from cow found in Udaya Mountain are partly red in color.
- Those chamaram made from the cow found in the Gandhamadana mountain are a mixture of white, blue and black. This is very rare.
Qualitative distinctions are made in the Chowries. The best are said to be those in which the hair used is long, light in weight, smooth to tough and pointed towards the end.
Today handcrafted cowries of Bharatpur in Rajasthan which have handles made of ivory, silver, or sandalwood, are famous