Patravali

Patravali or Pattal or Vistaraku or Vistar or Khali is an Indian eating plate or trencher made with broad dried leaves. It is mainly made from Sal leaves. It is also made from Banyan tree leaves. It is made in circular shape, by stitching 6 to 8 sal leaves with tiny wooden sticks.^[1] It is popular during traditional meals, festivals and in temples.^[2] It is a cottage industry in India where women work on weaving them at home in spare time.

Vistaraku (An Indian eating plate) at Visakhapatnam

History[]

It was used extensively in the ancient times by Indians for its purity. It was a custom to serve food in a patravali for guest meal or celebrations, temple prasadam.

The plate[]

Sal tree leaves used for making patravali

Patravali is made from wildly grown plants like sal tree, fodder, pala tree, jack fruit etc.

Regions[]

The plates are popular in villages in arid region in India like parts of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, madhya pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu etc.^[3] The Flame of the forest Butea monosperma=Modhuga in Telugu amongst others provide leaves that are used either with many pieced together or singly (only in case of a banana leaf) to make a leaf-plate for serving a meal.^[4]

Custom[]

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]}

Outside India[]

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-plastic plates in street-food culture.

Pattal is one of the most eco-friendly, disposable food serving systems. Many other countries like in Germany are realizing its benefits and a few companies have started making pattal commercially.^[5] Although, in India Pattals can be spotted at every general stores.

Modern day[]

The plate is made by machines with silver foil cover at the bottom and with border for better form. And the traditional patravali is back because of its environment-friendly nature and biodegradability.

Benefits[]

1. It is one of the most eco-friendly, disposable food serving systems. It degrades quickly, unlike a metallic/porcelain utensil.
2. The antioxidants (polyphenols) in banana leaf is reported to help fight diseases.^[6]
3. It smells good and are used exclusively as aromatic food wrappers.

See also[]

• Banana Leaf

References[]

Vistarakulu.com