If we look around, we will easily notice that coconuts are being offered or grown in all the temples. Shriphal is considered very sacred in our culture. Therefore, we have been getting references for coconuts from more than hundreds of years. Every temple has a special place to crack the coconut; once the coconut is opened, its water is poured.
The idea that this nectar-like coconut water can be collected and appropriately exchanged has been developed through the creativity of Datta Sutar, Senior Director of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the team at the Government Technical Institute in Kolhapur. Datta Sutar is working as Technical Laboratory Assistant, Director.
The Approach Behind the Concept
Coconut water is important for health. However, during local native Jatra, Yatra, and Mahi and on certain days, many coconuts are broken in various temples, and their water is often wasted. This device is designed to collect this water and use it for patients. Also, he has offered it to the industry sector without taking its patent so that a maximum number of citizens can benefit from it.
After cracking the coconut, the machine collects the water from it. In terms of health, this coconut water is invigorating for thirst-quenching, physical empowerment, and kidney cleansing. Also, the temple administration can distribute this water efficiently to needy patients and prospective clients.
Datta Sutar, the creator of the device, shared the feeling behind creating the coconut water harvesting device. He said it takes seven months to produce nutritious water in a coconut. This water is beneficial for human health. Moreover, this water acts like saline for a patient. Keeping this in mind, the coconut water collection device was created. If the industry sector manufactures this device and gives it to prominent shrines, trusts, and temples, it will save the precious coconut water that gets wasted after growing coconuts. It will help to use that water for food or similar purposes. In addition, you can eliminate the shine, dampness and sloppiness caused by it in the temple area.
Harvesting Coconut Water
We go to various temples; in some places, coconuts are offered, or some coconuts are broken, but no one realises that after coconuts are grown, then the water should be collected and utilised. A couple of coconuts are fine, but at least 150 coconuts are broken in a temple. From observation, it has been realised that more than five lakh coconuts burst in each temple every year (in Western Maharashtra) during various pilgrimages.
From the point of view that so many coconuts are cracked, and their water is not collected at all, it was mind-boggling to see after discussion with the Principal Dr Dattatraya Garge, Head of Mechanical Engineering Department at the institute, Pramod Vaise and the advocates. Nectar, like coconut water, is wasted. But, from the swamp, it was glittering, and an idea was determined, and he became obsessed with creating a device.
How Does The Machine Work?
- When the machine cracks the coconut, not a single drop of water is wasted.
- Water is collected in a tray, and by installing a valve, the water is filtered and taken in a bottle.
- Once the coconut is grown, the coconut particles do not go into the water.
- The filter mesh is installed in two places in the water machine. A strainer collects pure water through the mesh into the tray and through the valves fitted into the bottle.
Importance of Coconut Water
- Coconut water (Shahale) is given to the sick person. Coconut water is sweeter than Shahale water.
- If we break a coconut at home, four people share a bowl of water and drink it. Why? So everyone should get nutritional value.
- We call coconut Kalpavriksha. When the equipment was made, the usefulness of coconut trees and water was realised.
- All parts and organs of the coconut tree are useful. None of it is wasted. Precious water was being wasted.
- Research has shown that the properties of coconut water help cleanse the kidneys. In addition, coconut water has helped maintain the internal cleanliness of the body.
- It is essential for the internal and external cleanliness of the body. Coconut water is helpful for eyes, skin and hair.
Supply as Demand
This machine is made entirely using stainless steel. Care is being taken that no barrier should be there in the process of whole coconut water collection. Now the enquiry is coming from various places. So the questioning started from that. This device is generally available for about Rs 8000.
Separate Machine for Shrines
If there is a demand from big shrines and temples, it is planned to provide complete information about the device at those places. No complicated technology was put into the making of the device. Every devotee who comes will have basic information about how to break a coconut on it, how the water will go down and how to get it. Planning to give demonstration is going on. A team of 10 people is working on that.
So far, the equipment has been provided to the Mahaganapati temple at Badlapur in Thane district, the Lakshmi temple in Karnataka and the Mahadev temple at Kapashi in Radhanagari. Since everyone insists on getting a patent, the process has been started. But now we have offered this equipment to the industrial sector. The purpose is to create an industry for the industrial world.
The water collected in the temple is drunk by the people themselves and is distributed to the patients admitted to the hospital. At present there is an increasing demand for it in summer. Companies producing coconut oil have realised the importance of this water. For example, coconut oil is dried at Admapur (Kolhapur district). Although they had not thought about coconut water, as soon as they got information about the device, they stored it and gave it to people in need.
Devotees enjoy coconut water as prasad, where the equipment is provided. Some devotees break coconuts and step aside, and some fill bottles. Care is being taken to recycle the bottles too. At present, there is a demand for equipment from Nashik. Moreover, any shrine has a huge crowd of devotees. Therefore, keeping in mind the need the time that this work will not be done by breaking coconuts and collecting water one by one, the work is underway to prepare a device that can break at least ten coconuts at the same time.
A Different Route for Spoiled Water
The device is designed so that the spoiled coconut water does not flow into the mainstream as the valve is installed. The spoiled coconut husk is wet; it is immediately noticeable that the coconut produces gas. At that time, care is taken to close the valve immediately. That water does not mix with the previous good water.
Kalpavriksha has numerous benefits. Nature provides everything in abundance; man needs the ability to take it in. Do you agree? On behalf of Datta Sutar and his colleagues, nectar-like coconut water will get everyone without wasting it.
Apart from this, there will be a significant increase in employment generation on this occasion. A self-reliant India is what we expect by doing Swadeshi Jagar!!!
