In medieval India, a device was used to draw water from wells in which a wheel had many buckets attached to it, which was called ‘ Arghatta ‘ in common language. Such devices are still seen in various places, but in very small numbers.
The word ‘Arghatta’ is made up of the combination of ‘Ar’ meaning spoke and ‘Ghatta’ meaning pot. Arghatta is made from a Persian wheel.
It is an irrigation device that was used in medieval India. Arghatta is a mechanical device used to draw water from wells. It is operated by animals like bulls, buffaloes or camels. It has a wheel fitted on top of the well on which many buckets (pots) are attached. The wheel is attached with wooden bearings to a thick long stick which can rotate around the well and it is rotated by a bull or any other big domestic animal. Due to rotation, the buckets go down and come up after filling water from below.
There is a big tank in the middle of the wheel in which the water gets emptied. Due to the time taken and modern equipment, it is not used nowadays. Even today we will find it in some rural backgrounds. But in some places, its different forms are seen.
