Traditional wooden churning rod guide from Nepal. Such churning rod guides have a practical use as well as an aesthetic quality and are therefore often beautifully decorated. This can be done by carving beautiful shapes into the wood, such as knots or human figures, as well as with subtle (geometric) patterns such as stripes or dots that are carved into the wood.
They are used as a kind of pulley to hold the ropes together in jato , threshing mills that grind grain. The ghurra allows the rope to move without wearing out quickly. They are also used as part of a carrying system for transport over rough terrain, where they provide support.
Today, the ghurras are still made by artisans, to keep the traditional craft alive. This is something the Nepalese people are very proud of.
