'Vaan' - Threshing of Parboiled Rice (Goa - India)

'Vaan'

USED FOR THRESHING PARBOILED RICE

(A must in the back room of every rustic village home of a bygone era)

The 'Vaan' consists of a hole in the ground of about 6" in diameter and 8" deep along with a set of two bamboo poles. This is mainly a chore for two women alternatively beating into the hole where paddy or par-boiling rice is placed and then threshed using the ends of the bamboo poles. Based upon judgment the hollow is then emptied. The rice and husk is separated using sieves and techniques using using a unique bamboo contraption called 'sup'.

The poles are usually smooth as someone suggested, but the one that I have shown above in my drawing are bamboo poles. My father was a very innovative and ingenious man.  He polished thick bamboo poles himself, to be used as a replacement very cleverly and with originality well suitable for the purpose of a replacement.