Patravali, also known as Pattal, Vistaraku, Vistar or Khali, are eating plates, bowls or trencher made with broad leaves in India and Nepal. It is mainly made from sal leaves, dhak leaves and bauhinia leaves. It is also made from banyan tree leaves. It is made in circular shape, by stitching 6 to 8 leaves with tiny wooden sticks. Food is served on both fresh and dried pattal. [1] It is popular during traditional meals, festivals and in temples.[2] Its manufacture is a cottage industry in India and Nepal where women work on weaving them at home in spare time.
The word Patravali is derived from Sanskrit word Patra; a term used for both leaf and vessels or utensils. The word Patravali literally translates to "made of leaf".[3] Patravali is also known as Pattal, Tapari, Ilai, Mantharai ilai, Chakluk, Vistaraku, Vistar, Khali, Donne, Duna, Bota in various regions of India and Nepal.
History
Men eating from fresh pattal plates and bowls, ca. 1712
Plates and bowls made of leaves finds mentioned in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist texts. According to Hindu tradition food eaten on prescribed leaves is believed to have numerous health and spiritual benefits. Buddhist texts like Susiddhikara Sūtra prescribes making offering to deities on lotus leaf and dhak leaves.[4]
In Nepal, pattal is called Tapara/ Tapari. Nepalese Hindus extensively and compulsorily use it in religious ceremonies, feasts, marriage, birth and funeral rituals. It is also used as a popular substitute for metal or plastic plates in street food culture in Nepal and India. In India, it is a custom to serve food in a patravali on religious festivals and temple offerings like prasadam are also distributed to devotees in pattal bowls. Pattals are also used for wrapping food or steaming food.
In olden days, until a century ago, a would-be son-in-law was tested on his dexterity in making a patravali plate and bowl (for serving more liquid parts of the meal such as daal or stew) before being declared acceptable by the soon to be father-in-law.[citation needed]
Modern day
In India and Nepal, making pattal is a cottage industry. The leaves are stitched together with very thin pins made from bamboo, one person can make around 200 pattals a day.[7] Mechanized pattal-making is slowly being introduced in areas like Himachal Pradesh.[8]
The antioxidants (polyphenols) in banana leaves are reported to help fight diseases.[9][better source needed]
Pattal is one of the most eco-friendly disposable food serving systems. Many other countries such as Germany are realizing its benefits and a few companies have started making pattal commercially.[10] In India pattals can be spotted at every general store.[11]
^Two Esoteric Sutras By Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, page 219, 2001
^'Man in the Forest, Local Knowledge and Sustainable Management of Forests and Natural Resources in India', page 220, Klaus Seeland & Franz Schmithüsen, 2000.
^'Bhojanakuthūhala of Raghunatha - Volume 1 Treatise on dietetics according to Ayurveda', Page 83, Suranad Kunjan Pillai & J.Śr̲īlēkha, 2013
^Sharma, Anjali (26 January 2021). "Revival of the Environment Friendly Pattal". Hill Post. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
^Parmar, Chiranjit (28 July 2018). "Taur leaves can easily replace plastic, thermocol". The Tribune. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
^Aubrey, Barbara. "The Nutritional Value of Banana Leaves". OurEverydayLife. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
^saxena, sparshita (9 January 2017). "Leaf Plates From Germany: Time to Switch Back to Ancient Indian Traditions?". NDTV Food. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
^Gupta, K.A. (14 May 2012). . Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.
March 12, 2023
patravali, also, known, pattal, vistaraku, vistar, khali, eating, plates, bowls, trencher, made, with, broad, leaves, india, nepal, mainly, made, from, leaves, dhak, leaves, bauhinia, leaves, also, made, from, banyan, tree, leaves, made, circular, shape, stitc. Patravali also known as Pattal Vistaraku Vistar or Khali are eating plates bowls or trencher made with broad leaves in India and Nepal It is mainly made from sal leaves dhak leaves and bauhinia leaves It is also made from banyan tree leaves It is made in circular shape by stitching 6 to 8 leaves with tiny wooden sticks Food is served on both fresh and dried pattal 1 It is popular during traditional meals festivals and in temples 2 Its manufacture is a cottage industry in India and Nepal where women work on weaving them at home in spare time Dried pattal made from leaves of genus Bauhinia Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2 1 Customs 3 Modern day 4 See also 5 ReferencesEtymology EditThe word Patravali is derived from Sanskrit word Patra a term used for both leaf and vessels or utensils The word Patravali literally translates to made of leaf 3 Patravali is also known as Pattal Tapari Ilai Mantharai ilai Chakluk Vistaraku Vistar Khali Donne Duna Bota in various regions of India and Nepal History Edit Men eating from fresh pattal plates and bowls ca 1712 Plates and bowls made of leaves finds mentioned in Hindu Jain and Buddhist texts According to Hindu tradition food eaten on prescribed leaves is believed to have numerous health and spiritual benefits Buddhist texts like Susiddhikara Sutra prescribes making offering to deities on lotus leaf and dhak leaves 4 Ayurvedic Samhita texts classifies leaves into Ekapatra unifoliate such as lotus leaf and plantain leaf Dvipatra Tripatra or Saptapatra and so on according to the number of leaflets 5 According to Ayurvedic Samhita eating on lotus leaf is as beneficial as eating on golden plate among prescribed leaves for making Patra include Nelumbo Nymphaea rubra Nymphaea nouchali Shorea robusta Bauhinia variegata Bauhinia vahlii Bauhinia purpurea Butea monosperma Musa acuminata Ficus religiosa Ficus benghalensis Artocarpus heterophyllus Curcuma longa Ficus auriculata Erythrina stricta etc each of these are believed to improve taste and promotes health benefits according to these texts 6 Customs Edit In Nepal pattal is called Tapara Tapari Nepalese Hindus extensively and compulsorily use it in religious ceremonies feasts marriage birth and funeral rituals It is also used as a popular substitute for metal or plastic plates in street food culture in Nepal and India In India it is a custom to serve food in a patravali on religious festivals and temple offerings like prasadam are also distributed to devotees in pattal bowls Pattals are also used for wrapping food or steaming food In olden days until a century ago a would be son in law was tested on his dexterity in making a patravali plate and bowl for serving more liquid parts of the meal such as daal or stew before being declared acceptable by the soon to be father in law citation needed Modern day EditIn India and Nepal making pattal is a cottage industry The leaves are stitched together with very thin pins made from bamboo one person can make around 200 pattals a day 7 Mechanized pattal making is slowly being introduced in areas like Himachal Pradesh 8 The antioxidants polyphenols in banana leaves are reported to help fight diseases 9 better source needed Pattal is one of the most eco friendly disposable food serving systems Many other countries such as Germany are realizing its benefits and a few companies have started making pattal commercially 10 In India pattals can be spotted at every general store 11 See also EditButea monosperma Banana LeafReferences Edit Chandra Swati 23 January 2012 Traditional pattal loses out to convenient plastic Times Of India Archived from the original on 2 February 2014 When dinner comes on nature s plate Patra https www learnsanskrit cc translate search Patra amp dir au Two Esoteric Sutras By Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research page 219 2001 Man in the Forest Local Knowledge and Sustainable Management of Forests and Natural Resources in India page 220 Klaus Seeland amp Franz Schmithusen 2000 Bhojanakuthuhala of Raghunatha Volume 1 Treatise on dietetics according to Ayurveda Page 83 Suranad Kunjan Pillai amp J Sr ilekha 2013 Sharma Anjali 26 January 2021 Revival of the Environment Friendly Pattal Hill Post Retrieved 8 February 2023 Parmar Chiranjit 28 July 2018 Taur leaves can easily replace plastic thermocol The Tribune Retrieved 8 February 2023 Aubrey Barbara The Nutritional Value of Banana Leaves OurEverydayLife Retrieved 8 February 2023 saxena sparshita 9 January 2017 Leaf Plates From Germany Time to Switch Back to Ancient Indian Traditions NDTV Food Retrieved 8 February 2023 Gupta K A 14 May 2012 Sal leaf dishes make way for plastic ones Times of India Archived from the original on 2 February 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Patravali amp oldid 1143045006, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
