We will talk about the desert of Thar in this blog. Although it is one of the most adverse places in the world to live but people of Thar desert are very tough and hard working. I will try at my best to share you the full knowledge on Thar desert.
Introduction
The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent that forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan. It is the world's 17th largest desert, and the world's 9th largest subtropical desert.About 85% of the Thar Desert is in India, and the remaining part in Pakistan. In India, it covers about 320,000 km2(120,000 sq mi), forming approximately 10% of the total geographic area of India. More than 60% of the desert lies in the state of Rajasthan and extends into Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana.
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| Satellite Image of Thar Desert(In Orange boundary) |
Origin
Thar Desert is a topic of great controversy, though most geologists agree that it is somewhere in the region of 4000-10,000 years old. There is no fixed and proven theory about the origin of Thar desert. I will try to explain the best one.
The present pattern of rainfall must have set in when the Himalayas rose high enough to become an obstruction, thereby causing the establishment of a monsoon regime. However, the general lowering of temperatures during the Pleistocene Ice Ages must have kept Rajasthan moist till perhaps sub recent times. Stable isotopes and other studies have since shown that this event occurred at ~ 7 million years ago. It constitutes the eastern end of the great Saharan-Arabian mid-latitude desert belt that owes its existence to the anti-cyclonic, subsiding dry continental air regime. The eastward extension of this regime gets constrained by the strong monsoon winds. Several meteorologists have suggested that the shallowness of the monsoon current and the anti-cyclonic circulation do not allow the clouds to grow and precipitate, despite the presence of pricipitable water in the region.. Subsequent work using remote sensing tools revealed the presence of a palaeo-drainage system all over, including the most arid districts of Jaisalmer and Bikaner. The disappearance of the legendary Saraswati River has been a subject of great interest. Remote sensing studies revealed several courses of a river at various points of time. One of the earliest courses of a Himalayan drainage lay in the southerly direction to flow through the present Luni, with the latter being a tributary of the former. The Thar Desert is dotted with several salt lakes or playas. Though small in their spatial extent, these playas are distributed all over, from the foot of the Aravalli Mountains to the more desert western part of Bikaner and Jaisalmer. Ghose ascribed their occurrence to the point of confluence of drainage systems but subsequently suggested that blockage by aeolian sands could also be a possible cause. Since then, other factors like deflation hollows or tectonically subsiding basins have been suggested. The lakes are highly saline and a few in the west are gypseous. The sedimentary columns of these lakes comprise stratified strata dominated by silts and clays with various salt species and carbonate lenses, thus attesting to a fluctuating environment in the process of their development.
Geo-morphology of Thar Desert
1. Sand dunes
2. Plain land between
dunes
3. Plain barren land with
rubbles and gravel
4. Salt lakes
5. Rivers
6. Mountainous region
1. Sand Dunes
The major types of dunes are:
a) Parabolic
b) Linear,
c) Transverse
d) Star as well as variety of networked dunes
e) Major obstacle dunes alongside hills
f) Barchans, arachnoids and mega barachnoids
g) Low sand streaks including shrub coppice dunes, zibars,source coppice dunes.
Barchans, barachnoids and mega barachnoids are crescent shaped and are fast moving dunes.
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| Star Dune |
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| View of Sand Dunes in Thar Desert |
2. Plain land between sand dunes
-The dunes which are not moving dunes have plain land patches in between them. These plains are full of vegetation which mainly consists of Khejari and Rohida,Aak,Acacia and some permanent shrubs like Sania, kheenp etc. Pearl millet is mainly grown in these plains during rainy season. The sand is quite rich in minerals due to sedimentation of leaves and grass over the years. In local language it is called as der or dela.
3. Plain barren land with rubbles and gravel-Many parts of Jaisalmer,Barmer,Jodhpur and Khokhrapar of Pakistan are of this type. The population density is very low, the vegetation is scant.
4. Salt Lakes- There are many salt lakes found in desert-Majority of them are Sambhar,Didwana,Lunkaransar,Pachpadra,Khinchan and Falodi.People harvest salt during rainy season and is a source of livelihood for them.
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| Satellite Image of Sambhar Lake |
5. Rivers-
There are only two rivers in the desert of Thar-
A. The Luni
It is an endorheic river of western Rajasthan state, India. It originates in the Pushkar valley of the Aravalli Range, near Ajmer, passes through the southeastern portion of the Thar Desert, and ends in the marshy lands of Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, after travelling a distance of 495 km. It is first known as Sagarmati, then after passing Govindgarh, it meets its tributary Sarsuti, which originates from Pushkar Lake, and from then on it gets its name Luni. The Luni River basin is 37,363 km², which includes all or part of the Ajmer, Barmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali, and Sirohi districts of Rajasthan and the Banaskantha and Patan districts of northern Gujarat.
Its major tributaries are the Sukri, Mithri, Bandi, Khari, Jawai, Guhiya and Sagi from the left, and the Jojari River from the right. The Luni River begins near Ajmer in the Pushkar valley of the western Aravalli Range at an elevation of about 550m. At this point, the river is also known as the Sagarmati. The river then flows in the southwest direction through the hills and plains of the Marwar region in Rajasthan. The river flows south-west and enters the Thar Desert before dissipating into the Rann of Kutch, traversing a total of 495 km. In spite of the high salinity, it is a major river in the region and serves as a primary source of irrigation. The Luni is not saline until it reaches Balotra, where high salt content in the soil impacts the river and it becomes salty.
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| Course of Luni River |
B. Ghaggar
-Hakra
The Ghaggar Hakra River is an intermittent, endorheic river in India and Pakistan that flows only during the monsoon season. The river is known as Ghaggar before the Ottu barrage and as the Hakra downstream of the barrage.
The basin is classified in two parts, Khadar and Bangar, the higher area that is not flooded in rainy season is called Bangar and the lower flood-prone area is called Khadar.
Nineteenth and early 20th century scholars, but also more recent authors, have suggested that the Ghaggar-Hakra might be the defunct remains of the mythological
Saraswati of the Rig Veda. Recent geophysical research does not support this idea. It shows that the Ghaggar-Hakra system was not sourced by the glaciers and snows of the Himalayas, but rather by a system of perennial monsoon-fed rivers. Late Holocene aridification subsequently reduced the Ghaggar-Hakra to the seasonal river it is today
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| The Ghaggar Hakra River Course |
6. Mountainous Region
The Aravali hills run
parallel to the desert of Thar in North-East direction. There are few mountains
of Aravali which are part of the desert. We can see mountains in Barmer,Jodhpur
and Nagaur district of Rajasthan. Since mountains are running parallel to the
desert,it does not help in rainfall from North-West monsoon.
Demography
The Thar Desert is the most densely populated desert in the world, with a population density of 83 people per km2.The literacy rate is very low in the desert. It is approximately 67%.
Per capita income is $1045 for the people of Thar Desert which is very low.
Most of the population living in Thar in India is Hindu, followed by Muslims and the people living in Pakistan are Muslims as majority followed by Hindus.
Language: People on India side speak Rajasthani(Marwari), Dhati, Hindi, Sindhi, Urdu and English.While the people on Pakistan side speak Urdu,Sindhi,Dhati and English.
The main occupation of people is as
given below-
1. Agriculture
2. Animal
husbandry
3. Mining
4. Government
Service and business in other states of India and Pakistan
5. Tourism
The
people of Thar have a great communal harmony among themselves.
Major Tourist
destinations
We will
explain all the tourist places in details later on but below is the list of
major tourist attractions of the desert of Thar
1. Mehrangarh
Fort-Jodhpur
2. Sonar
Fort-Jaisalmer
3. Junagarh
Fort-Bikaner
4. Derawar
Fort in Bahawalpur –Pakistan
5. Khinvsar
Fort in Rajasthan
6. Amarkot
Fort in Pakistan
7. Swarngiri
Fort in Jalore
8. Fort
of Siwana.
Apart
from forts there are other tourist destinations which can be summarized as
given below:
1. Ummed
Palace-Jodhpur
2. Nakoda
Jain Temples
3. Asotra
Brahma Temple
4. Temples
of Khadin in Barmer
5. Sun
temple of Devka in Jaisalmer
6. Havelis
in Jaisalmer city
7. Chhatris
in Pokaran
8. Khed
Temple in Balotra
9. Rani
Bhattyani Temple in Jasol
10. Gajner
Fort in Bikaner
11. Desert
National Park in Jaisalmer
12. Sand
dunes in Sam and Khuhadi in Jaisalmer
13. Karni
Mata Temple in Bikaner
14. Tanot
Mata Temple in Jaisalmer
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| Mehrangarh Fort,Jodhpur |
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| Umarkot Fort,Pakistan |
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| Jaisalmer Fort |
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| Ummed Palace,Jodhpur |
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| Brahma Temple Asotra |
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Nakoda Jain Temple
|
Mineral Resources
1. Petroleum –
A. There are many oil fields located in Barmer –Sanchore Basin in India viz.-Mangala, Bhagyam, Aishwarya, Sarswati, Rageshwari and Kameshwari. Cairn Energy is main explorer in these fields. The government of India has proposed a refinery of 9 MMTPA at Pachpadra which will be fed by crude from Barmer.
B. Natural Gas exploration Jaisalmer Basin by Oil India Limited-There is a gas based power plant in Ramgarh of Jaisalmer run by Gail and state government.
2. Gypsum-It is also mined in
Bikaner, and Barmer.
3. Lime Stone-Mined in Sonu in Jaisalmer
4. Lignite-
Main mines are located
in Kapoordi, Jalipa and Shivkar in Barmer .There are mines in Bikaner also.
5. Marble-Mined in Makrana in
Nagaur.
6. Granite- Jalore , Lakha(Jaisalmer)
and Siwana
7. Sandstone-Jodhpur
Now that the brief description of the desert has been given above.We will explain each and every point in details:
Agriculture
There are mainly two crop in cycle in Thar desert.One is Rabi and Another is Kharif.
The agriculture is mainly dependent on rain.The annual rainfall is very low.
Kharif Crop Cycle:
This crop cycle is carried out from July to September(3 Months).
Following crops are produced:
1.Bajra(Pearl Millet)-
This is staple food of the Thar desert on both sides of border.
This is rich in iron.The breads made out of Bajra are known as Sogra in local language.This food is having very less fats.It is rich in carbohydrates,iron and proteins.The grains are fine and are brownish in color.The plant of the crop reaches a height of 6 to 7 feets. The harvesting in ancient time was done by crushing the crop with the help of a rod or by crushing the crop under feet of bulls or camel.Now a days it is done with the help of threshers.It is sown with the help of plows.The camel and bullocks now have been replaced by tractors.Its bread is very tasty.It is eaten in cities also during winter season as it is not easy to digest the bread of bajra in summers.It is very tasty when eaten with curd.
Bajra grains
Bajra Crop
Bread of Bajra.
You need to pour a lot of butter in order to make the bread tasty.There are few more items which are made of out of Bajra and its flour.
Bajre ka Khich
2.Guar(Cluster Bean-Cyamopsis tetragonoloba)
This is number 2 crop of that desert.this is basically a cash crop.It is sown on a large part of the thar desert.
This legume is a very valuable plant within a crop rotation cycle, as it lives in symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. In fact, agriculturists in Thar desert follow crop-rotation and use guar as a source to replenish the soil with essential fertilizers and nitrogen fixation, before the next crop. Guar as a plant has a multitude of different functions for human and animal nutrition but its gelling-agent-containing seeds (guar gum) are today the most important use.Demand is rising rapidly due to industrial use of guar gum in hydraulic fracturing (oil shale gas).About 80% of world production occurs in India
and Pakistan
.
The guar gum industries are main source of income for businessman in Barmer,Balotra,Jodhpur and Bikaner in Rajasthan.
Cluster Bean Plant
The guar is a very healthy food.It is rich in proteins and minerals.It seed is boiled and then used to feed cattle.
The beans are also used in cooking.Its vegetable is very tasty when eaten with Sogra.
Gaur beans with potato
3.Mung
The mung bean (Vigna radiata), alternatively known as the moong bean, green gram, or mung Sanskrit मुद्ग / mudga, is a plant species
in the legume family. It is used as an ingredient in both savory and sweet dishes.It is third number kharif crop after bajra and guar.It is a cash crop.
Mung dal halwa
The halwa is a very tasty sweet made out of moong flour.It is served in marriage and other functions.
4.Moth
Vigna aconitifolia is a drought-resistant legume, commonly grown in arid and semi-arid regions of India. It is commonly called mat bean, moth bean, matki, Turkish gram or dew bean. The pods, sprouts and protein rich seeds of this crop are commonly consumed in India. Moth bean can be grown on many soil types, and can also act as a pasture legume.
Moth bean is an herbaceous creeping annual which grows to approximately 40 cm high. Yellow flowers on its hairy and densely packed branches develop into yellow-brown pods, 2 to 3 inches in length. The seeds of these pods contain approximately 22–24% protein.
Due to its drought resistant qualities, its ability to combat soil erosion and its high protein content, moth bean has been identified as possibly a more significant food source in the future.
It is a cash crop for desert farmers.It is used as a supplementary food items.It is used to make Papads(A famous Indian bread which can be eaten only after roasting. ).
The badis made out of moth floor are used to make vegetable.
Moth Badi
Rabi Crop Cycle:-
The Rabi crop cycle starts in October and lasts up to March.
The desert is very vast in area.Very less part of the desert is having irrigation facilities/canals.
As there is no rainfall during Rabi season ,the farmers are dependent on irrigation.
The Indira Gandhi Canal is main source of irrigation in the district of Bikaner and Jaisalmer.
In Barmer some of the area is irrigated through Narmada Canal.Rest of the areas are irrigated through wells and tube-wells.
Following are the main crops of Rabi in Thar desert.
1.Jeera(Cumin)
2.Isabgol
3.Mustart
4.Wheat
1.Jeera(Cumin)
This is the major Rabi crop cultivated in Thar desert.It is a spice which is widely used in dishes across the world.India is the highest producer of cumin in the world.90% production of cumin in India comes from Thar desert.It is the major cash crop of Thar desert.
Fig-Cumin Plant after flowering
Cumin is vulnerable to frost damage, especially at flowering and early seed formation stages.There is a saying in Marwari language "Jeero jeev ro vary" means Cumin is dangerous for soul.
Two sowing methods are used for cumin, broadcasting and line sowing. For broadcast sowing, the field is divided into beds and the seeds are uniformly broadcast in this bed. Afterwards, they are covered with soil using a rake. For line sowing, shallow furrows are prepared with hooks at a distance of 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in). The seeds are then placed in these furrows and covered with soil. Line sowing offers advantages for intercultural operations such as weeding, hoeing, or spraying. The recommended sowing depth is 1–2 cm and the recommended sowing density is around 120 plants per square metre. The water requirements of cumin are lower than those of many other species. Despite this, cumin is often irrigated after sowing to be sure that enough moisture is available for seedling development. The amount and frequency of irrigation depends on the climate conditions.
Cumin Seeds
Cumin seed is used as a spice for its distinctive flavour and aroma. It is globally popular and an essential flavouring in many cuisines, particularly South Asian (where it is called jeera) Northern African, and Latin American cuisines. Cumin can be found in some cheeses, such as Leyden cheese, and in some traditional breads from France. It is commonly used in traditional Brazilian cuisine. Cumin can be an ingredient in chili powder (often Tex-Mex or Mexican-style), and is found in achiote blends, adobos, sofrito, garam masala, curry powder, and bahaarat. In Myanmar, cumin is used as a spice. In South Asian cooking, it is often combined with coriander seeds in a powdered mixture called dhana jeera.
Cumin can be used
ground or as
whole seeds. It helps to add an earthy and warming feeling to food, making it a staple in certain stews and soups, as well as spiced gravies such as curry and chili. It is also used as an ingredient in some pickles and pastries.
2. Isabgol(Psyllium)
This is the second most popular and widely grown cash crop of Thar desert.
Psyllium is mainly used as a dietary fiber to relieve symptoms of both constipation and mild diarrhea and occasionally as a food thickener. Research has also shown benefits in reducing blood cholesterol levels.
The plant from which the seeds are extracted tolerates dry and cool climates and is mainly cultivated in northern India. Psyllium products are marketed under several brand names, such as Metamucil, Fybogel, Konsyl, and Lunelax.
Psyllium plant
Use:
Constipation:
Psyllium is mainly used as a dietary fiber, which is not absorbed by the small intestine. The purely mechanical action of psyllium mucilage is to absorb excess water while stimulating normal bowel elimination. Although its main use has been as a laxative, it is more appropriately termed a true dietary fiber and as such can help reduce the symptoms of both constipation and mild diarrhea. The laxative properties of psyllium are attributed to the fiber absorbing water and subsequently softening the stool. It however does increase flatulence to some degree.
Psyllium Husk
High blood cholesterol
Psyllium fiber has been shown in studies to lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels while another common fiber, methylcellulose, has not shown these benefits.The use of soluble-fiber cereals is an effective and well-tolerated part of a prudent diet for the treatment of mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. Although the cholesterol-reducing and glycemic-response properties of psyllium-containing foods are fairly well documented, the effect of long-term inclusion of psyllium in the diet has not been determined. Supplementation with fiber as ispaghula husk may have adverse effects on colorectal adenoma recurrence, especially in patients with high dietary calcium intake.
Food
As a thickener, it has been used in ice cream and frozen desserts. A 1.5% weight/volume ratio of psyllium mucilage exhibits binding properties that are superior to a 10% weight/volume ratio of starch mucilage. The viscosity of psyllium mucilage dispersions are relatively unaffected between temperatures of 20 and 50 °C (68 and 122 °F), by pH from 2 to 10 and by salt (sodium chloride) concentrations up to 0.15 M. These physical properties, along with its status as a natural dietary fiber, may lead to increased use of psyllium by the food-processing industry. Technical-grade psyllium has been used as a hydrocolloidal agent to improve water retention for newly seeded grass areas, and to improve transplanting success with woody plants.
This is also very risky crop like Jeera as a rainfall of one one minute can damage the crop since all the seeds will fall down from its pods due to moisture.So the yield is completely dependent on God's will.
3.Mustard(Brassica)
This is also called sarson or raida in local language.Its leaves are used to make tasty vegetable dish.It is highly tasty when eaten with Maize bread.
Mustard plants are any of several plant species in the genera Brassica and Sinapis in the family Brassicaceae. Mustard plant belongs to the phylum ' Angiosperm' Mustard seed is used as a spice. Grinding and mixing the seeds with water, vinegar, or other liquids, creates the yellow condiment known as prepared mustard. The seeds can also be pressed to make mustard oil, and the edible leaves can be eaten as mustard greens
.
Mustard plants in a field
Mustard Seeds
4.Wheat
Wheat is cultivated in small tracts in Thar desert only for domestic use by farmers.As it needs a lot of water ,it is least cultivated crop of Thar desert.
Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry is another occupation of the people of Thar desert.It is another major source of livelihood for people of Thar desert.
The people in desert mainly rear following animals:
1.Camel
2.Sheep
3.Goat
4.Cow
5. Buffalo
Camel:
Camel is known as the ship of the desert as in ancient times it was the main source of commutation and transportation in Thar desert.The richness of the person was measured by the number of camels held by him.The hump of the camel in its back stores fats.It can live for a long period without water.They provide milk, meat, hair for textiles or goods such as felted pouches, and are working animals with tasks ranging from human transport to bearing loads.
A camel in Thar desert during rainy season.
The hairs of camel are cut in a very artistic manner.Please look at the picture below:
Art on a camel skin in Camel fair in Bikaner
The art on camel skin is very famous from Thar desert in Pakistan.It is a time taking art and needs a lot of concentration and craftsmanship
A lamp covered with camel skin art
The making of Camel Skin Lamps is a handiwork that has been practiced in Multan for almost a millennium! There are families in the city who have been into this business for centuries and continue to this day.
Camel skin lamps Made in Multan are renowned world-wide for the intricate handwork done on them by skilled artisans. The art of decorating a camel’s skin is known as NAQASHI in the local language and is a very valuable skill.
The different paintings made on the camel skin that is fixed atop the lamps represent the local culture of Multan city. The pictures, the designs, the colors, all connect with the local customs in Multan.
Camel skin lamps made from Multan have been exported to different countries of the world and have therefore earned a lot of accolades and goodwill for the ancient city and the country.
Making of Camel Skin Lamps: Team Work of a Triad
It is said that the making of camel skin lamps is the joint effort of three different workers skilled in their individual expertise. One is the Clayman, the second is the Naqash and the third is the Dabgar. Each of the three work in unison to produce ornate camel skin lamps in Multan.When a camel dies, it is still of value to the owner as he can sell its skin and make a good profit out of its sale. This is a bit similar to goatskin that is sold frequently in Pakistan at a good profit for the goat owners.
Processing the High Value Camel Skin for Lamps
- The camel skin is first cleaned free of camel hair and then washed with a chemical. This is to ensure its cleanliness from all kinds of unwanted substances such as flesh particles.
- Next, the camel skin is cleaned in a way that quite a few layers are removed from it so that the skin becomes translucent. This is because the camel skin is later to be used for a lamp and so it must allow light to pass through it to fit onto a lamp.
- Finally, the camel skin is fixed on top of a base made of clay and then left to dry in the sun.
- The next step in the process is for the artisans to use a die to decide the shape they intend to give to the skin.
- After that, they paint the skin with traditional colors or pictures depicting the local culture. Painting of the camel skin is probably the most difficult step in the process, relatively speaking. This is because it is very intricate in its nature as the designs on the camel skin are all very minute. This means that extra care has to be taken in the designing and the panting of the camel skin lamps.
A lot of attention is required to ensure that mistakes do not occur in the designing of the camel skin or the painting over it. The eyes of the Naqash also take a toll as he performs his art on one lamp after the other.
In addition to the camel skin being used for making lamps, other small handicrafts such as camel skin vases and lamps also have a high appeal with buyers.
Durable and Long-Lasting Camel Skin Lamps
The camel skin lamps are very long-lasting, buyers can assure themselves that they can practically last for a lifetime. The camel skin lamps are said to be of service for between fifty to hundred years. The lamps would need varnishing at different points in time so as to maintain their beauty and shine however.
Exporting Local Souvenirs Overseas
However, the export of camel skin lamps made in Multan continues as they are admired and valued the world over, courtesy of their beauty and the hard work put into them. There is a huge demand for camel skin lamps made in Multan in the gulf countries as well as in Europe and America.In the US, camel skin lamps are sold for as much as six hundred [600] USD. However, there are many different varieties and each lamp has a different price, some are available in much cheaper rates as well.The camel skin lamps are also sold online worldwide such as on amazon.com and amongst other websites to fans of this art.
Vintage Camel Skin Lamps
An interesting fact about camel skin lamps is that many of the vintage lamps are in high demand in the market. Many admirers of the art are keen to purchase camel skin lamps made long time ago probably because of the skill of the workers that fascinates them. Those workers may have had expired as of today but their skill might as well serve to keep their hand-made camel skin lamps in high demand throughout the world.
