Rahat in Kolbagh village (Machad Bhati) - 1984 |
Rahat in Varad (RumaoAli) Courtsey Louis P. Rumao |
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Rahat or waterwheel was used all over Vasai to draw water from wells for agricultural purposes. It was powered by a bullock or sometimes by a male buffalo. Today, Rahat has all but disappeared due to introduction of electric pumps to draw water from the wells. It is expensive and inefficient to maintain a bull and Rahat for agriculture since cost of agriculture has risen yet, the returns are small. Today, Rahat remains only in pictures like this one. The well you see here is gone - filled to make way for houses.
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Suvarta© - Rahat January 2003 |
Artists Concept of Rahat or water wheel and the idyllic life in the Vasai village. This picture appeared on the January 2003 issue of Suvarta. There was an excellent article on Rahat written in the same issue of Suvarta, it brings out the life and life style of people as it revolved around farming. The article was written in Marathi and can be read on this page. (Suvarta© 2003.) |
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