WHERE HAVE THE MASHQIS OR BISHTIES ( WATER CARRIERS ) GONE ?

                                                                                 

                                
A DRAWING OF MAJOR JOHN LUARD (1790-1875 ) SHOWING BHISHTIES OR MASHQIS  OF INDIA FILLING WATER FROM A WELL .1838

 WHERE HAVE THE BISHTIES or MASHQIS ( WATER CARRIERS ) GONE ? .

The BHISHTIES OR MASHKIS or the water carriers have vanished from the Indian society . We had MASHKIS  in Kashmir also . They were Nicknamed as SAKKA. The MASHAQ or the carrying bag was generally made of Goat skin with a capacity to hold about 30 litres of water. We would see them sprinkling water on roads in summers and sometimes offering it to the thirsty . They would also appear in  marriage functions to sprinkle water on path to be traversed by Baratis or Guests . We would see them in Bazaars with the MASHAQ hung across their shoulders like a GUITAR .

( Autar Mota 14.08.2014 )

                                

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