Would you fancy a jhula (swing) in your home?
One of the most memorable days of our childhood were those spent on a jhula in our backyard or in the garden. Today, every time I see a jhula in our neighbourhood or in a bungalow, it reminds me of the days when as a child, I always yearned to touch the sky by swinging high and low. I derived immense pleasure by seating myself on it even though we took turns to swing.
Since time immemorial, jhulas/swings have been created and used in various shapes, sizes and concepts. They were used both in India and in other countries even though they were known by different names. Apart from just a recreational object, a jhula was even used in various places like parks, palaces, playgrounds and so on. The royal clans had jhulas in their gardens and balconies. It was a tradition which has been carried out till date. Apart from just a traditional aspect, a jhula was also associated with toddlers wherein they were put to sleep in a jhula. Even today most homes have jhulas to put their babies to sleep. Jhulas were made of different materials like a sari, cloth, rope, fibre, metal, wood and so on. They are also used in places like a circus for amusement and a porch for relaxation. The seat of a jhula can be suspended with a chain or a rope and when the swing is in motion, it continues to oscillate like a pendulum until it is halted.
Today, jhulas have been designed in various shapes and are available in swing sets for children as swings which are popular among them. There are swings with leg holes which support the toddler. Also many swings have play items like a rope ladder and a sliding pole.
Having a jhula in a home is a must as it is part of the furniture which most of us are not aware about. Currently there are arrays of designs which are implied on every jhula and most of them are made out of wood and carved with beautiful designs. You can also get acustomisedjhula and place it in your balcony.
Types of Jhulas which you can have in your backyard or garden:
A tyre Jhula:
For a cheap and affordable swing in your backyard, you can have a tyre swing made out of an entire tyre and tied to a rope. You can see these types of swings in most Indian villages. New tyres or used ones can be used as swings. Also, there are various commercially developed playground swing sets with oversized new tyres. These swings are often reinforced with a circular metal bar to improve safety and are hung on chains from metal or wooden beams. The tyre swings are often hung vertically or hung flat and are suspended from three or more points. These swings can also hold more than one child.
A rope jhula:
As the name suggests, a rope jhula is made out of a rope. It is a swing created by tying the end of a rope to a mounted place or a tree with an elevated structure. Rope swings can be put in your backyard if you have a large tree or a mounted place. You can also tie them to hooks embedded in the walls inside your home. Rope swings are also tied near water bodies which can make it easier for the person swinging to land smoothly in the water.
The toddler swing:
Mostly the toddler swings are bucket shaped and have hole for the child’s legs to keep the child intact. The toddler swing can be used in your home if you have an infant.
The porch swing:
A porch swing is in trend these days in many homes, balconies and bungalows. Porch swings are made in different shapes and sizes and can accommodate many members. These swings are used even for weddings and in cafés. It is designed in the form of a bench and is mounted to the roof of the porch or the balcony. They can also be replaced with rocking chairs and gliders. They are mostly placed outdoors in many homes.
Hammocks:
These are the contemporary forms of swings which are used in many leisure places like hotels, resorts, apartments and so on. Hammocks are available in many shapes and sizes with colourful netted surface.
Henceforth you can retain the Indian tradition by having a jhula in your home. The placing of jhulas in today’s homes have become very rare as there is a lack of space. If you’re looking to buy a jhula for your home, you can get it customised, buy it online or get a ready-made one.
Follow the link to buy and view few traditional jhula designs.
http://www.rukmaniarts.com/wooden-swings/Cat_Index.asp
http://www.indianswings.com/profile.htm
