Watermills in Kumrat Valley Dir Upper.
In cities, the use of machine to grind the flour which is
generally given importance for making bread. However, since we don't have
machines here, we use watermills to grind flour, which we call "Yel"
in the local Gawri language. In order to grind the grains in the water mill, we
first have to take our turn to use the watermill, from the driver of the
watermill, which we call "Yelir". We have to wait for our turn as no
one can grind their grains without being given a turn.
Every year, from October to November,
people bring their own maize grains, grind them in their turn and store them
for the winter season. During heavy snowfall, we are confined to homes and use
the stored food. The watermill is set up on flowing streams with high speed,
known as "Nadi Nalos". The watermill does not require electricity,
petrol, or diesel to operate as it runs on running water. There are two large
stones for grinding flour placed on top of each other, and below them is a
wooden fan-like device called "Pashool".
Water is poured onto the Pashool from
a height, and it starts rotating. In this fan-like Pashool, a strong wooden
stick is attached, which is firmly fitted between the two stones with great
strength.
We, the local people, call it
"Thoom".
When water falls on the Pashool, it starts rotating, causing the Thoom to start spinning. Similarly, the upper stone's support also begins to rotate. There is a box-like structure where the grains are poured, which we call "Dador". Through a small wooden canal attached to the Dador, called "Dadak", the grains pass between the two stones. And they get crushed and converted into flour. One end of the Dadak is attached to the upper stone, so when the stone rotates, the Dadak also moves, and in the same way, the grains automatically move between the stones' supports.
A strong thread is tied with the Dadak to control the speed of the grains. When the grains are ground and ready, they are put into a sack with the help of a manual device called "Lavli". We have been using these watermill for centuries. In the autumn season, our watermills run for twenty-four hours a day. That's why when it's someone's turn at night, they take their friends, companions, a Sitar (a Guitar like instrument for music) and a flute with them because the nights in winters tend to be longer. The specific sound of the millstone, along with the sound of the sittar or lantern, and the folk songs, create a mysterious environment around.
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