Jato (grinder)

Jato is a type of rotary hand quern or grinder in the Himalayan region of Nepal, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Bhutan. It is a traditional tool to grind grains. It consists of two round stones (disc) of which the bottom part is attached to the ground or the floor in the house. This attached disc or lower disc is immovable and has a big nail or a piece of wood (mani or bell) in the centre to keep the top stone in place while grinding. The top part however has two holes in it, one in the middle to insert grains and the other on the side to place a wooden handle (hato) for grinding. The grains are ground using a circular motion with the help of the handle and the person has to be sitting down to do the task.

Advantages of Jato:

1. Easy to use.
2. Efficient flow of ground grains.
3. Reduces the force needed to grind.

Disadvantages of Jato:

1. Continuous use of Jato causes pain in the palm.
2. Not suitable for children.
3. It is immovable and bulky.