katora

Katora, also transliterated as katori, is a common term in Hindi, Urdu, and related languages for a small bowl or dish used to serve food. In Devanagari it is written as कटोरा, and in Urdu as کٹورا. The word is widely used across the Indian subcontinent and in diaspora communities, referring to individual serving bowls that accompany a main plate or thali.

Katoras vary in material, size, and design. They range from small to medium in diameter, typically used to hold curries, lentils, yogurt, chutneys, sauces, desserts, or snacks. Common materials include stainless steel, brass, copper, ceramic, glass, wood, and clay. Some sets are plain for everyday use, while others are decorated or nested for serving larger meals or formal occasions.

In daily dining, katoras are integral to the thali and are used to present individual portions of side dishes and condiments. They are also used in restaurants and street food settings to portion sauces and accompaniments. In many households, a standard set of katoras matches the number of courses or guests, and the vessels may be washed or reused repeatedly.

Related terms and varieties include the closely related spelling katori, which is common in several Indian languages. The concept of a small serving bowl also appears in other culinary traditions, but the term katora/katori is distinctly associated with South Asian dining practices.