Uttarakhand: The taste of mountain salt spread from the state to abroad

In today’s era, the women of Uttarakhand are no less than anyone; She has come a long way in every field. Be it politics or the field of science or business, everywhere hundreds of women of the country have achieved this position on the strength of their hard work. There is definitely a business woman in every household. Which is making a mark in the business on its own. Along with this, many women are also being linked with employment. In this sequence, Shashi Bahuguna Raturi, a resident of Thano, Dehradun, is also spreading the flavor of the mountain in the name of the brand ‘Pisyun Loon’ (Grounded Salt). Along with this, 15 women along with Shashi are also improving the economy by preparing ‘Pisyu Loon’. Apart from this, women and farmers of many villages of the mountain are also selling coarse cereals, pulses, spices and badri ghee by associating with the ‘Namakwali’ brand.

In particular, ghee prepared from the milk of Badri cow and magic spices are in great demand. Not only TV actors Ashish Bisht, Geeta Bisht, Aryan Rajput, Jordan etc. from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are fond of salt ground on silbatte, but Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also likes it a lot. Even the residents of Uttarakhand living abroad, when they come here, do not forget to take Pisyu Loon from the salt seller.

Shashi Bahuguna is also working for the upliftment of women across the state and to save the folk traditions of Uttarakhand through Mahila Navajagran Samiti. The exercise of taking Pisyu Loon from door to door is also a part of this effort. Shashi says, she has formed a women’s group to keep alive the Mangal songs of Uttarakhand.

During the practice of the songs, a woman used to bring ground salt from home, which everyone liked very much. It was from here that he got the idea of taking Pisyu Loon to the country and the world. Started salt grinding with three women and took the help of internet media for sales. Gradually the demand for salt started increasing and today she is selling 35 to 40 kg of ground salt in a month. 15 women from Thano, Satyo, Tehri, Chamba etc. are associated with Shashi in the work of salt grinding.

In these, women working permanently earn up to Rs 10,000 in a month, while women working temporarily are given remuneration according to their work. Apart from this, women associated with the group also set up stalls in self-employment fairs organized across the country. Women are also improving the economy by selling ghee prepared from the milk of Badri cow and coarse grains and pulses through Namakwali brand. Shashi’s husband Vipin decorates the packing of Raturi products with his beautiful paintings.

Shashi says, “As soon as the name of Pisyun Loon is mentioned, the memories of grandmothers and mothers grinding salt on cobwebs are refreshed in the minds of the residents of Uttarakhand living in the country and abroad. With the passage of time, not only the house was left, but also the silbatta was left. In such a situation, whenever someone comes from abroad, he asks us why this salt is not available outside the country. At present, we do not have the license, but soon we will take the taste of Pahadi Loon to abroad.

Apart from salt, there is also a great demand for spices prepared by women associated with the group. This spice, prepared from a mixture of 17 mountain herbs, is also very helpful in preventing diabetes along with high blood pressure. The herbs added to it include Ashwagandha and Giloy, apart from turmeric, cardamom, jakhya, cumin, black pepper etc.

The group is also working in five villages of Garhwal, in which women from Uttarkashi district make ghee from the milk of Badri cow. Also, organic pulses and turmeric are also included in their major products. Salts like ginger, garlic, hemp, mix flavors etc. are prepared under the Namakwali brand. To make salt, women grind salt along with ginger, garlic, coriander, chili etc. on a colander. Grinding in silbatte gives a different taste of salt.

Shashi says that last year on Diwali, she started making more rots. Within no time, he started getting orders from different places. People give each other bread and bread as Diwali gifts. Due to this, people were saved from the harm caused by adulteration in sweets and the tradition of the mountain also spread like fragrance in every house. Rot and Arse were sold in large numbers in Holi as well.