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Pounding rice - Malabar region of Southern India
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Pounding rice - Malabar region of Southern India
Sifting, sorting and pounding rice with a large pestle and mortar - Malabar region of southern India (lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea). Date: circa 1910s
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Media ID 11576005
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Crush Crushing Flour Grain Grind Grinding Grinds Malabar Mortar Pestle Preparation Region Rice Sift Sifting Sort Sorting Sorts Southern Technique Techniques Grils
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the timeless tradition of rice preparation in the Malabar region of Southern India, circa 1910s. The image portrays a group of young girls intently engaged in the laborious process of sifting, sorting, and pounding rice using a large pestle and mortar. The Malabar region, nestled between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, has a rich cultural heritage and is renowned for its unique rice varieties and traditional techniques. In this scene, the girls meticulously sift the rice to remove any impurities, ensuring the highest quality grain for the upcoming meal. Once the rice has been sorted, it is placed in the large, earthen mortar. With great force and precision, one girl crushes the rice grains against the pestle, while another girl continuously sifts the rice flour to remove any remaining husks or debris. The process is repeated until the rice is finely ground and transformed into a smooth, creamy consistency. This photograph offers a glimpse into the historical techniques used for rice production in the Malabar region, which have been passed down through generations. The use of a pestle and mortar, a simple yet effective tool, has been a staple in Indian kitchens for centuries. The girls' focused expressions and the rhythmic sound of the pestle pounding against the mortar create an atmosphere of unity and dedication to the art of rice preparation. This image serves as a reminder of the importance of tradition and the connection between food, culture, and community in the Malabar region of Southern India.
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