What is a Punkawaller?

A Punkawaller is a person who operates a punkah, a traditional ceiling fan commonly used in India and other South Asian countries. The punkah is typically a large, cloth-covered, swinging fan that is manually pulled back and forth by the Punkawaller to create a cooling breeze in hot environments. This practice has historical significance, especially in colonial times, where Punkawallers were employed in households and public spaces to alleviate the heat before the advent of electric fans.