Ganderbal, Oct 11: Amid the growing use of modern machinery and electricity-powered flour mills, traditional watermills, locally known as Aab Gharats or Pani Chakis, continue to operate in parts of Kashmir, preserving a centuries-old practice rooted in sustainable use of natural resources.
Powered entirely by flowing water, these traditional mills rely on a simple mechanism that harnesses the energy of mountain streams and springs to grind grains without electricity or fossil fuels. Despite declining demand and the growing dominance of modern flour mills, some Gharats continue to serve rural communities, keeping alive an important part of Kashmir’s cultural and agricultural heritage.
Scattered across villages in Ganderbal district, these watermills demonstrate how local communities have traditionally used natural resources to meet their everyday needs. Diverted water flows through a wooden channel and strikes a horizontal wooden turbine, locally known as the garad or makkri. The rotating mechanism turns heavy stone grinders used to process maize, wheat, rice and other grains into flour.
The process requires no electricity and produces no direct emissions from fuel combustion, making Gharats a traditional example of low-impact technology.
One such watermill is operated by 60-year-old Mohammad Iqbal Khatana in Surfraw village of Kangan in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Khatana has been associated with the work since childhood and remains determined to continue the family’s traditional occupation.
“These Gharats had great significance in villages in the old days. A Gharat owner enjoyed a better social status in the village, as the family could earn both food grains and money as a service charge for grinding,” Khatana said.
He said traditional watermills had gradually lost their demand with the expansion of industrial milling and the growing preference for modern processing facilities.
“Gharats are environment-friendly, but they are largely forgotten. With the advent of industrialisation, they are rapidly losing demand. Modern mills have dealt a severe blow to our traditional occupation, and many Gharats have stopped operating because of a lack of customers,” he said.
Explaining the working of his mill, Khatana said fast-flowing water from nearby streams was channelled to turn the heavy grinding stones, producing flour without conventional energy sources.
Residents of surrounding villages continue to visit his watermill, where he often accepts a share of the flour instead of cash as payment for grinding their grain.
Khatana said his family had been associated with the occupation for several generations, with his father and grandfather operating the traditional mill before him.
“I wish to keep my family’s traditional business alive and hope my children will continue it after me,” he said.
“The watermill is a symbol of our centuries-old culture, which is gradually disappearing with the introduction of new technology. There is a need to preserve it so that future generations can also learn about these environment-friendly mills,” he added.
Beyond their traditional role in rural livelihoods, Gharats are valued by many millers and residents for the quality of the flour they produce. The relatively slow grinding process reduces heat generated during milling compared with high-speed grinding, potentially helping retain some of the grain’s natural oils and flavour. However, the nutritional quality of the final product also depends on the grain, milling conditions and storage.
Historically, Gharats served as more than grain-processing facilities. Villagers would often gather around the mill while waiting for their grain to be ground, exchanging news and maintaining social ties. The spaces also formed part of the everyday rural economy and community life.
Despite these cultural and environmental benefits, traditional watermills face mounting challenges. The expansion of commercial flour mills, changing consumer preferences, irregular water flows and the migration of younger people to urban areas for employment have weakened the traditional occupation.
Many Gharats in remote areas have fallen silent, while those still operating require regular maintenance of their wooden channels, turbines and grinding mechanisms. Millers often rely on locally available timber to repair worn components and keep the machinery functional.
The survival of these watermills depends not only on the dedication of individual families but also on whether traditional milling can remain economically viable. Documentation of the remaining Gharats, support for their maintenance and efforts to promote traditional milling could help preserve both the craft and its associated cultural knowledge.
As communities increasingly look towards sustainable ways of using energy and natural resources, Kashmir’s traditional Gharats offer a reminder of how local knowledge once met essential needs with minimal dependence on external energy. Their continued operation in villages such as Surfraw reflects the resilience of a traditional practice that remains relevant even as modern technology transforms rural life.
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