Part I · The Heritage of the Pankha 1.1 Etymology and Ancient Origins

Last updated at July 14, 2026 by

Extract from the Text

“The word punkha or pankha originates from the word ‘pankh’, which means feather of a bird. Pankha is used to refer to all fans, whereas the word pankhi denotes a small plumed fan used in ancient India. Evidence of the existence and use of pankhi in India can be found in Buddhist wall paintings at Ajanta. These wall paintings date back to the 2nd century CE.”

Summary in Bullet Points

  • Etymology: Pankha = all fans; comes from pankh (feather — pankh = par ). Pankhi = small plumed fan only. plumed = decorated with or having feathers

    Pankha aya hai pankh se, matlab chiriya ka par. Pankhi ek chhota fan hota tha jo purane zamane mein use hota tha.

  • Ancient evidence: Buddhist wall paintings at Ajanta (2nd century CE) show pankhas. Also found in embroidery, sculpture, and carvings . embroidery = the craft of decorating cloth with needle and thread

    Ajanta ki paintings mein pankha ka use dikhta hai, yeh paintings 2nd century CE ki hain. Iska matlab pankha bahut purana hai.

  • Traditional uses: Used in temples to fan deities and in royal courts to fan kings. Sizes ranged from a tiny 2-inch to large ones needing full arm strength.

    Pehle pankha temples mein bhagwan ko hawa karne aur rajao ko hawa karne ke liye use hota tha. Size 2 inch se lekar bahut bade tak tha.

NCERT Questions (from the Textbook)
Check Your Understanding (NCERT Kaveri page 74)
I. I. Complete the table. Name the type of fan and the material used in each state.
State Type of Fan Material Used
Rajasthan Appliqué hand fan _________________
_________________ Gold thread (zardozi)
Temple hand fans _________________
Gujarat Mirror work hand fans _________________
_________________ Beads, silver handle
_________________ Leather, decorated with thread and wool
West Bengal Sola hand fans / Tal Patar Pankha _________________
Uttar Pradesh _________________ Pure gold, silver zari, silk and satin frills
Bihar _________________ Bamboo
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Answers:
State Type of Fan Material Used
Rajasthan Appliqué hand fan Fabric pieces in different shapes, ornamental needlework
Zardozi hand fan Gold thread (zardozi)
Temple hand fans Engraved brass, long handle
Gujarat Mirror work hand fans Pure cotton with mirror work
Bead hand fans Beads, silver handle
Kutch leather fans Leather, decorated with thread and wool
West Bengal Sola hand fans / Tal Patar Pankha Sola (water grass) / palm leaf
Uttar Pradesh Phadh hand fans Pure gold, silver zari, silk and satin frills
Bihar Bamboo hand fans Bamboo

Yahan har state ka fan aur material yaad rakho — Rajasthan mein applique, zardozi aur brass temple fans; Gujarat mein mirror work, bead aur Kutch leather fans; Bengal mein sola aur palm leaf wale pankhe; UP mein Phadh fans jisme gold-silver zari lagti hai.

Board Pattern Questions Mapped to Exam Format
Fill in the Blank 1 mark
The word pankhi denotes a small ___ fan used in ancient India. (plumed / woven)
How to answer: Pick the word that matches how pankhi is described in the text.
View Answer Hide Answer
plumed — The text says ‘pankhi denotes a small plumed fan used in ancient India.’ Plumed means decorated with feathers, which fits the feather-derived origin of the word.

Pankhi ek chhota plumed (par-wala) fan hota tha. ‘Plumed’ matlab feathers se sajaa hua.

MCQ 1 mark
Where can evidence of pankhas be found, dating back to the 2nd century CE?
(A)  Mughal miniatures
(B)  Buddhist wall paintings at Ajanta
(C)  Ancient Sanskrit manuscripts
(D)  Rock edicts of Ashoka
How to answer: Locate the sentence mentioning ‘2nd century CE’ in the text.
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(B) Buddhist wall paintings at Ajanta. The text states explicitly: ‘Evidence of the existence and use of pankhi in India can be found in Buddhist wall paintings at Ajanta. These wall paintings date back to the 2nd century CE.’

Ajanta ki Buddhist wall paintings mein pankha ka sabse purana proof milta hai — 2nd century CE se.

Short Answer 2 marks
What is the difference between pankha and pankhi ? Why is knowing this difference important?
How to answer: Give the meaning of each word and explain why the distinction matters (35–40 words).
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Pankha is a general term for all fans and comes from pankh meaning ‘feather of a bird.’ Pankhi refers specifically to a small plumed fan used in ancient India. Knowing the difference shows how vocabulary evolved alongside the craft’s changing forms over centuries.

Pankha = sab fans ka naam. Pankhi = specifically ek chhota plumed fan. Yeh difference dikhata hai ki language aur craft dono badlate rahe.

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