From the archive record
A traditional agricultural practice is shown in a rural hilly region of Maharashtra, India, where four white Zebu oxen (Bos indicus) are tied to a central wooden post and walk in a circular path over harvested crop stalks. This method, locally known as bullock treading or Daauni, uses the animals’ weight to separate grain from husk on a flat threshing floor. The oxen display characteristic humps and long horns while moving steadily around the pile. To one side, two elderly individuals are crouched near the ground, engaged in an activity associated with the harvest process. In the background, villagers sit and observe, wearing traditional attire. The surrounding landscape includes dry terrain, low vegetation, and forested hills, along with a simple rural structure.