Fans of many regions

Each region's fan carries its culture. Here is the essay's tour.

Rajasthan:

• appliqué fans (cut fabric shapes sewn onto cloth with ornamental needlework);
• zardozi fans (glittering gold threadwork);
• temple fans of engraved brass with long handles;
• painted cardboard fans offered to gods.

Gujarat: pure cotton fans with mirror work; bead fans with silver handles (Gujarat is India's centre of bead craft); and from Kutch, hand-stitched leather fans. Many are made by home-based women workers.

Further east:

• Bengal: delicate fans from the milky-white spongy centre of sola (a water grass), and the palm-leaf Tal Patar Pankha found in most homes;
• Uttar Pradesh: Phadh fans with gold, silver zari, silk and satin frills;
• Odisha: large palm-leaf fans;
• Bihar: colourful, sturdy bamboo fans.

Tribal fans use grass, cane and palm leaves with geometric patterns, often white on red.

The winds of change. With the advent (arrival) of electric fans, coolers and air conditioners, pankhas lost their everyday use. Once made for personal use, they are now a small business that gives artisans a livelihood. Celebrating them, holding pankha-making workshops and showing them at craft exhibitions can spread awareness and keep the craft alive.