Kalawali Maker
Make a Kashmiri Pandit kalawali (family biodata) with parental and maternal sides. Free, private and ready to print.
The kalawali: a complete guide to the Kashmiri Pandit family biodata
A kalawali (sometimes written kalavali) is the biodata that Kashmiri Pandit families exchange when a match is being considered. Where a typical marriage biodata is about one person, a kalawali introduces the whole family: parents and grandparents, the bua and fufa ji on the father's side, the nana, nani, mama and mami ji on the mother's side, and often cousins and their spouses, each with their occupation.
That detail is the point. In a close-knit community spread across Jammu, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and abroad since 1990, a kalawali lets two families quickly find common relatives, understand each other's background and start a conversation. It also usually records where the family comes from in the valley, alongside where it lives today.
The Kalawali Maker above starts with exactly these traditional fields. Fill in what applies to your family, add anything that's missing, and download a clean, print-ready PDF or an image to share on WhatsApp.
What to include in a kalawali
There is no single official format, but most kalawalis follow the same order, moving outward from the person to the wider family:
- Personal details
- Name, date of birth, time and place of birth (used for matching horoscopes), height, qualification and job profile. Many families also add income.
- Parental side
- Father and mother with their occupations, grandfather and grandmother, and the bua (fufi) and fufa ji. Siblings are often listed here too.
- Maternal side
- Nana ji and nani ji, and mama ji and mami ji. Massi and mosa ji, and cousins on this side, are added if the family wishes.
- Ancestry (optional)
- Some families add great-grandparents or an ancestral line, which helps elders place the family.
- Addresses
- The valley address (for example, 'Originally R/O Habba Kadal, Srinagar'), the Jammu address and the present address.
- Contact
- Phone numbers, usually the parents', and an e-mail address.
Writing conventions families use
A few small conventions make a kalawali read the way elders expect. None are compulsory, but they are widely used:
- Put the occupation in brackets after each name, for example 'Sh. Rakesh Kaul (Retd. Bank Manager, J&K Bank)' or 'Smt. Neelam Kaul (Home Maker)'.
- Use 'Sh.' for men and 'Smt.' for married women, and 'Late Sh.' or 'Late Smt.' for relatives who have passed away.
- Mark retired positions with 'Retd.', and include the department or organisation, since it often helps families find a connection.
- For couples, write one line: 'Smt. Sunita Saraf (Teacher) w/o Sh. Rakesh Saraf (Regional Head, Ashok Leyland, Bangalore)'.
- Include the grandmother's maiden surname in brackets, for example 'Smt. Sheela Raina (Wanchoo)'. It is one of the quickest ways for families to place each other.
- Keep it to one A4 page. If it runs long, cousins are the usual first cut.
Kalawali or biodata: which one do you need?
Use a kalawali when the match is within the Kashmiri Pandit community and families are likely to look for common relatives; it is what most elders expect. A shorter biodata with a photo works better on matrimony sites or when the other family is from outside the community. Many families keep both. Our Biodata Maker uses the same editor, so you can make the second one in a few minutes.
Your family details stay private
A kalawali carries names, phone numbers and addresses of many relatives, so this tool is built to keep them on your device. There are no accounts and no uploads: your draft is saved only in your browser, and the PDF is created on your phone or computer. To continue on another device, use File → Save editable file and open it there.
How to make your kalawali
- 1
Start from the traditional fields
The form already has the usual kalawali fields. Fill in what applies; empty fields are left out of the printout.
- 2
Or import an existing biodata
Have an old kalawali as a PDF, scan or photo? Use 'Import PDF or photo' and the form fills itself. Check every field afterwards, especially for scans.
- 3
Add, rename and reorder
Use the one-click suggestions (Massi Ji, Tau Ji, cousins) or add your own fields and sections, such as an ancestry section.
- 4
Choose a design and download
Pick Classic, Heritage, Modern or Sidebar and a colour, then download a print-ready A4 PDF or an image for WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kalawali?
A kalawali is the family biodata Kashmiri Pandit families exchange for marriage. Besides the person's own details it lists both sides of the family, parental and maternal, with each relative's occupation, and the family's valley and present addresses.
What is the correct kalawali format?
There's no single official format, but the usual order is: personal details, parental side (parents, grandparents, bua and fufa ji), maternal side (nana, nani, mama and mami ji), addresses, then contact numbers. The Classic design reproduces the familiar ruled-table layout.
Should I include time and place of birth?
Most families do, because they are needed to match horoscopes. If you prefer to share them only later, simply leave the field empty and it won't be printed.
How do I write the names of relatives who have passed away?
Use 'Late Sh.' or 'Late Smt.' before the name, for example 'Late Sh. Dina Nath Kaul (Retd. Headmaster)'.
Can I make a kalawali from an old biodata PDF?
Yes. Use 'Import PDF or photo'. Typed PDFs are read almost perfectly; scans and photos are read automatically and may need a few corrections.
Can I add a photo to the kalawali?
Yes. Add a photo in the Document section. It appears in the designs that support a photo, and stays on your device.
How do I send a kalawali on WhatsApp?
Tap 'Image' to download a high-resolution picture, which opens directly in WhatsApp chats. Send the PDF when the family wants to print it.
Is my information uploaded or stored anywhere?
No. Everything you type is saved only in your own browser on your device, and the PDF and image are created on your device too. There are no accounts, and nothing is sent to our servers.