Patravali - Revision history

imported>InesBaumgartner: Minor updates and cleanup applied

2024-03-08T22:16:33Z

Minor updates and cleanup applied

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-{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
+#REDIRECT [[Leaf plate]]
-==History==
+{{R from merge}}
-==The plate==
+[[Category:Culture of India]]
 [[Category:Objects used in Hindu worship]]
 [[Category:Serving and dining]]

->KarenJoyce: Citation details

2021-10-25T14:29:23Z

Citation details

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
'''Patravali''' or '''Pattal''' or '''Vistaraku''' or '''Vistar''' or '''Khali''' is an Indian eating plate or [[Trencher (tableware)|trencher]] made with broad dried leaves. It is mainly made from [[Shorea robusta|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.<ref>{{cite news |first=Swati |last=Chandra |date=Jan 23, 2012 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-23/varanasi/30654853_1_plates-wedding-season-kulhads |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202152303/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-23/varanasi/30654853_1_plates-wedding-season-kulhads |archive-date=2014-02-02 |title=Traditional 'pattal' loses out to convenient plastic |newspaper=[[Times Of India]]}}</ref> It is popular during traditional meals, festivals and in temples.<ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/301501/when-dinner-comes-natures-plate.html When dinner comes on nature's plate]</ref> It is a [[cottage industry]] in India where women work on weaving them at home in spare time.
[[File:Vistaraku (An Indian eating plate) made with broad dried leaves 02.jpg|thumb|'''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, [[prasadam|temple prasadam]].

==The plate==
[[File:Shorea robusta in Chhattisgarh.jpg|thumb|[[Sal tree]] leaves used for making patravali]]
Patravali is made from wildly grown plants like [[sal tree]], fodder, [[Butea monosperma|pala tree]], [[jack fruit]] etc.

==Regions==
The plates are popular in villages in arid region in Nepal and India like parts of [[Dharan]], [[Damak]],[[kathmandu]], [[Nepaljung]],[[Gujarat]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Odisha]],
[[Chhattisgarh]], [[madhya pradesh]], [[West Bengal]], [[Karnataka]], [[Telangana]], [[Tamil Nadu]] etc.<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050825/asp/jharkhand/story_5147643.asp The Telegraph - Calcutta : Jharkhand]</ref> 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.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140202152307/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-14/ranchi/31700562_1_leaf-plastic-items-dishes Sal-leaf dishes make way for plastic ones - Times Of India]</ref>

===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 [[dal|daal]] or stew) before being declared acceptable by the soon to be father-in-law.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

=== 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 or plastic plates in street food culture.

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.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Leaf Plates From Germany: Time to Switch Back to Ancient Indian Traditions?|work=NDTV Food|url=https://food.ndtv.com/health/leaf-plates-from-germany-time-to-switch-back-to-ancient-indian-traditions-1643046}}</ref> In India pattals can be spotted at every general store.

==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 [[Biodegradable waste|biodegradability]].

== Benefits ==

# It is one of the most eco-friendly, disposable food serving systems. It degrades quickly, unlike a metallic/porcelain utensil.
# The antioxidants (polyphenols) in banana leaf is reported to help fight diseases.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Nutritional Value of Banana Leaves|url=http://www.livestrong.com/article/319930-the-nutritional-value-of-banana-leaves/|website=OurEverydayLife}}</ref>
# It smells good and are used exclusively as aromatic food wrappers.

==See also==
* [[Banana Leaf]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Culinary wrappings}}

[[Category:Indian culture]]
[[Category:Objects used in Hindu worship]]
[[Category:Serving and dining]]
[http://vistarakulu.com Vistarakulu.com]