Charkha

“CHARKHA” which is commonly known as spinning wheel. The word ‘charkha’ has links from Persian ‘charkh’ known as circle. Spinning wheel (Charkha) is a very beautiful part of Punjabi culture. It is an item mostly used by women. It is small, easy to use and carry portable hand cranked wheel used to make thin fine fiber using cotton. Basically it has two parts.

1. Wheel
2. Spindle
 
The first thing is to set up the wheel. Now draw out the yarn (fiber) to arm’s length with your left hand while rotate the wheel clockwise with the right hand. This is done in a continuous motion, at a slight angle to the spindle. The trick is to coordinate the speed so that the yarn holds together but make sure not to make too much twist. Lift the hand and unwind the yarn from spindle, while rotating the wheel clockwise.
Young women keep themselves busy doing this work alone and in gatherings as well. Even in early times girls were given spinning wheels in their dowry. This is something to be appreciated because it is a great art work having different eye pleasing colors also.