Kanz & Mohul: a revisit to our Kashmiri heritage.

Introduction

Since many centuries down the memory lane of our culture, Kanz and Mohul have been a huge part of our culture. Most of today’s older generation would be familiar with this set of grinding tools, placed in the Aangan (garden) of their homes. Kanz and Mohul translate into Mortar and Pestle in the English language but with a size bigger than the typical pestle and mortar. The miniature version of it can be still largely found in Kashmiri homes in the form of “Neyim” and “Dagun” commonly used to make chutneys.

What did the Kanz & Mohul look like?

Kanz was a hollowed-out strong bowl made of wood or a special stone called “Devir Kaen” in local parlance. The Kanz was a sturdy bowl in which herbs, paddy (Tamul), spices, etc. were crushed or ground into powder by constant hitting with a pestle called Mohul.

The Mohul was a cylindrical stick or log of wood with rounded ends and comparatively thinner in the middle for gripping purposes. TheMohul was used for crushing the substance inside a mortar and was made out of light hardwood like hawthorn (Posh Hatb).

Process of Grinding

The process of grinding was usually done by womenfolk but occasionally men would come to help as well. Two women usually did the pounding in tandem known as “Dugh Talun” in the local language. Dugh Talun itself was a great art of repeated and rhythmic operation all along, it might look quite automated but needed great precision, focus, and strength.

Significance of Kanz & Mohul in Kashmiri Life

This grinding tool served beyond its practical use as it also was a means to bring people together, be it for festive preparations like weddings, or enhance the community bonds and camaraderie when women would come together to help one another with the grinding process of as simple as chilies making it a communal activity rather than just another household chore. Laughter and joy were shared along with the recipes and grinding techniques by mothers to daughters.

A variety of substances were ground using the Kanz & Mohul. It was through this manual grinding technique that aromatic spices like saffron, cloves, and cinnamon were powdered to perfection which preserved the natural oils and aromas of these species adding their flavor.

Rice – a staple – and a crop of chief importance in Kashmir, was husked by the grinding process done in Kanz and Mohul, which was winnowed using “Shoop” (winnowing basket), and the clean rice seeds were extracted which is called “Tumul”. This tumul becomes “Vye” when it is washed and made ready for cooking. After cooking it is called “Batte” which is the staple food of the people of the valley.

The Decline of the Kanz & Mohul and aftermath.

Manual grinding using Kanz & Mohul was a major household chore in the valley until the advent of modern technologies and changes in lifestyle. Now, it stands as one of the great marvels of Kashmir’s Heritage and craftsmanship. Basically, Kanz is now a useless item and has disappeared from the Kashmiri homes. It is very rare to see a Kanz anymore, and if one happens to be present anywhere, it would be lying like a bereaved lover around a nook of an alley on the outskirts of the valley.

Loss of this artifact isn’t only a major loss of heritage and craftsmanship, but the consumption of polished rice nowadays is increasing the risk of developing a vitamin deficiency disease called “Beri Beri”. Beri Beri is caused by Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency which isn’t found in abundance in today’s polished and processed rice.

Many other lifestyle disorders can be traced to the abandonment of this marvelous physical practice especially in women of the valley as the sedentary and comfortable lifestyle is adopted.

Further, the communal aspects of this practice of grinding where family and neighbors bonded over the shared tasks have also faded from the life of the contemporary generation. These grinding processes ensured a sense of shared responsibilities where neighbors often helped each other so no family was left struggling alone. Folk tales, riddles, and Wanvun (traditional Kashmiri songs) were shared turning this manual labor into a bonding experience for Kashmiri people.

Conclusion

Thus, Kanz and Mohul weren’t just some kitchen tools but it was today’s Twitter to form social connections through shared support, storytelling, and passing down of traditions. These labor-intensive activities such as using Kanz & Mohul were one of the important ways to bond, strengthen communal relationships, and preserve cultural heritage.