Mill owners reintroduce traditional watermills in northern India to generate income, preserve culture

Record ID: 1633892

  • Title: Mill owners reintroduce traditional watermills in northern India to generate income, preserve culture
  • Date: 26th August 2021
  • Summary: DHARAMSALA, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 23, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF HOUSES IN VILLAGE AREA VARIOUS OF WATER FLOWING IN SAMLL CANAL WATER FLOWING THROUGH MACHINE VARIOUS OF GRAINS BEING GROUND IN GRINDING MACHINE MILL OWNER CHECKING GRAINS MACHINE GRINDING/FLOUR FLOUR BEING COLLECTED AND BEING PUT IN SACK BAG FLOUR KEPT IN CONTAINERS/MACHINE GRINDING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) FARMER AND MILL OWNER, CHAMAN, SAYING: "The coronavirus period began around 2 to 2.5 years ago, so people who had moved out to work also returned home. They started doing farming again. We were also living in our houses (during the lockdown) but we had to do some work so, we got this (watermill) repaired and started working here again. We realised that this is the work of our ancestors with which they used to earn a livelihood so we should not let it die." AMRITSAR, PUNJAB, INDIA (AUGUST 25, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF WATER FLOWING MACHINES AT WATERMILL GRAINS BEING GROUND USING FORCE OF WATER WATER IN TURBINE VARIOUS OF GRAINS BEING GRINDED VARIOUS OF GRAINS BEING PUT IN MACHINE VARIOUS OF GRAINS BEING GRINDED (SOUNDBITE) (Punjabi) CUSTOMER, PYARA SINGH, SAYING: "They (water mills) are running since March of 1911. These mills run on water. There is no need for electricity. They run only on water…water from the canal. (REPORTER ASKING): What is the benefit of this flour in comparison with others? This flour has 100 percent nutrients of wheat and it remains as it is. This flour is cool and healthy for eating. It is really good for health." VARIOUS OF WORKER CHECKING FLOUR QUALITY FLOUR BEING COLLECTED AND PUT IN SACK BAG ROOF TEXT ON WALL READING (English): "RANEWALL MARCH 1911" EXTERIOR OF MILL VILLAGE AREA
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2021 09:23
  • Keywords: Dharamsala India coronavirus culture grains grinding machine health watermills
  • Location: DHARAMSALA, HIMACHAL PRADESH/AMRITSAR, PUNJAB, INDIA
  • City: DHARAMSALA, HIMACHAL PRADESH/AMRITSAR, PUNJAB, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA001ERX1G0F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Mill owners in India's northern hill town of Dharamsala have reintroduced traditional watermills amid coronavirus pandemic to earn a livelihood and preserve culture.
    Used for centuries by native people of the Himalayan region, the 'gharat' or watermill uses water from natural sources like streams, rivulets among other water sources to run machines and grind grains to produce flour.
    Coronavirus pandemic forced many mill owners to shut down their mills, however, with the number of cases dropping and people returning to normalcy, the usage of watermills was started.
    "We had to do some work (after cases of coronavirus dropped) so, we got this (watermill) repaired and started working here again. We realised that this is the work of our ancestors with which they used to earn a livelihood so we should not let it die," said farmer and mill owner, Chaman.
    "This flour has 100 percent nutrients of wheat and it remains as it is. This flour is cool and healthy for eating. It is really good for health," said a customer, Pyara Singh.
    Watermills are also used in northern Amritsar city for centuries with customers preferring to eat flour ground from them.
    The flour made in the watermill is softer, finer, and healthier, said a customer.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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