Author(s): Kritika Sharma; Vinay Sharma; Navneet Arora
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Gharat Watermills Himalayas Environment-friendly Traditional Civilization
Abstract: The Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions are abundant with streams, rivers, rivulets, etc. These water resources have usually been the centers for the establishment of civilizations since time immemorial. People considered the natural environment and its resources sacred, so they were utilized in a manner where there was no chance of exploitation and ruin. With time, people devised ways to harness the energy from the naturally available water from small water bodies to perform the function of grinding. Gharat is a local name for a traditional watermill found in the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions. It is a traditional system developed by the locals to use the kinetic energy of the various brooks and streams running abundantly in the Himalayas to mechanically grind grains, pulses, and spices using a pair of grinding stones. It is manufactured locally with naturally available materials and uses a simple mechanism to harness the energy of water in an eco-friendly manner. Since ancient times, people have been using these watermills for grinding purposes. But the scenario has changed in the present times. The potential of these watermills is being revealed by the technical institutions and various government and non-government organizations in terms of multipurpose use of these mills, such as electricity generation, food processing, weaving, and various agricultural needs. The present work aims to highlight this age-old but recently re-discovered potential of watermills to promote the revival and use of environment-friendly traditional technologies.
Year: 2025