Stone grinders have gone out of fashion in urban India. But when I was growing up we had both sil batta (on the right in the photo) and chakki (the round one on the left) at my home!
This is what was used to grind pulses (using the round one called chakki), masala (spices) and chatni in Indian homes before mixers and grinders became common. So when I saw them at Lakshman Sagar I had to click a picture.
we had both at home too, and till recently had another one to grind the idli atta too… disposing of the stone grinders was as difficult as using them! and incidentally, there is a garden near our place which has been decorated with a lot of such grinders thrown off by people in the area.
My granny had both too.. She even used to grind her own grain on chakki… We still have some where in my mother’s attic….Thanks for bringing the memories alive…
You know these chakkis are wonderful things. We still have them in the villages of Bihar. Thanks to modernity, we don’ have to use them in the towns but when I see one, it gives me a lot of happiness. Thank you Mridula for such a lovely post.
What lovely heirlooms and objects of history.
And they still use it huh?? Been ages i saw a operational one
We still have them at home although am not sure we use them so much today
Can you give me this chakki, please quote the price.
Anu post some pictures from that garden!
Desi Traveler thank you for sharing your stories.
Shalu I am happy to know that you liked the post 😀
Thank you Lady Fi.
Meena when I asked the hotel staff they said they do use them!
Lakshmi we do not have them any longer at home.
A crawl back in times. Definitely an experience to cherish.
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Traditional stone grinders are still popular in many homes in South India. They look old fashioned but taste a chutney that is ground from the old stone grinder and one with the so called super fast grinder and you can actually taste the difference in a big way. Tradition wins hands-down!
At “my” house in Tamil Nadu in the 60s we had a thing like a big stone rolling pin, on top of a stone block, which as far as I know was used for everything from grinding spices to breaking up jaggery. What’s the difference between the 2 types pictured? I still use a pestle and mortar sometimes, that is a small stone bowl with a stone or wooden grinding “stick”, for example for making pesto.
As long as its not the jail Ki chakki, I think it’s okay 😉
I am staying in Delhi and am looking for sil batta. can anyone tell me where to look for?
I am a big fan of old things like atta chakki ….could anyone help me with details how can i buy them online.
I could not visit places to buy them personally.