03-14-2005, 10:54 PM
Came via email...
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>1 what are the benefits of serving food on banana leaves?</b>
a) In past no plates / banana leaves were easily available and was
big enough to contain the food. Also, there is no particular smell in
the leave that can put you off.
b) Easily disposable and environment friendly (clean). Burn them and
the ozone layers are not affected.
<b>2 what is the reason for food to taste better when served or cooked on
banana leaves?</b>
a) As there is no chemical reaction the food keeps its value intact,
it can take heat and react well without tearing apart by the heat. b)
Tasting better has it is considered green leaf(adds value to food
just like any other greens) and it contains the leaf taste to make it
better.Easily manageable on heat.
<b>3 what is the correct way to place food on the banana leaf?</b>
a) The sweet should be placed 1st and followed by the
vegetables(side dishes) - to begin. After that followed by white rice
and curry(sambar), rasam, payasam. Just as a human life how it begins
sweetly and face and encounter good and bad (side dishes -
sour,sweet,bitter & etc), white rice is our pure human life - soul/sambar is a
kalavai of human life with the side dishes.After having all that our later
age - we have become composed and knowledgable resembling rasam
(experiences and encounters
mellow down)than you gain the enlightenment with sweet again payasam.
narrowed part should be placed on the left hand side and the broad end
should be on the right basically giving more room for the right hand to
get the food comfortably to eat/the unwanted items (like chilli and
etc) can be placed at the broad end.
<b>4 what is the reason for using the tail*(should be head end) end of
the banana leaf to serve prasatham or to serve special guest?</b>
a) It's called Thalai Vazhalillai - In our body Sirasae prathanam
meaning very important part.Also, Thalai Vazha illai represents our
humbleness and we are not permanent on this earth. We will give the
best to God. Thalai is an important word. We give more respect for thalai
ex: Thalai pillai, padai thalai & etc. So humble /bow down ( no
arrogance ) is the best thing we could do as human being. Thalai vazhai
illai's narambu centre vein is thinner and wouldn't tear easily as of the
broad tail end.
<b>5 what is the correct way of folding the banana leaf after eating?</b>
Those days they don't fold the banana leaves, this would enable the
guess to know whether the food was good.Only the hostess has to fold
and throw. Over the years they folded and I think it should be from the
outter side to the ourside ther as to say I have completed and had
enough satisfied meal.
<b>6 Why is it that the hostess always carries the banana leaf away to
dispose it?</b>
Thanathil siranthathu annathanam, So if the punniyam must be
completed, it's good to remove someone else illai by bowing ourselves
to remove, getting their person's blessings. People who had the
satisfied meals would be tired and while we remove it they appreciate and bless
us.These punniyam is what needed for the hostess.
<b>7 Is there any special enzymes etc on banana leaves?</b>
I don't think any special enzymes are there. Banana tree is the
only tree represents human life. This tree is never wasted, it only
gives combs of bananas once (Vazhai maram - kulai oru tharam thaan
thalum). Human life will be complete by their Offspring. The banana leave got
no unpleasant odour and it is just like any other green where by get's
soft when they get heated, this enable the food to have the value and
not changing the taste and added taste to the food. Most of the leaves
will have some odour or scent, which change the taste of the food. Can
you think of any leave which can hold the food to cook without any
change?
<b>8 Is there any special banana leaf myths, folklores or stories?</b>
In Mahabharatham - Lord Krishna requested the Pandavas to offer
food to the people( Anna thanam) When the people in the kingdom
finished the food, Krishna rushed to remove their leaves. The pandavas were
shocked and questioned Krishna. He replied, no point only offering, also
must humble ourselves to collect it to get the best -deeds( puniyam).
The pandavas realised it and started removing the leaves. This is partly
to win the Kuruhsethras war. Blessings are more important than
anything.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>1 what are the benefits of serving food on banana leaves?</b>
a) In past no plates / banana leaves were easily available and was
big enough to contain the food. Also, there is no particular smell in
the leave that can put you off.
b) Easily disposable and environment friendly (clean). Burn them and
the ozone layers are not affected.
<b>2 what is the reason for food to taste better when served or cooked on
banana leaves?</b>
a) As there is no chemical reaction the food keeps its value intact,
it can take heat and react well without tearing apart by the heat. b)
Tasting better has it is considered green leaf(adds value to food
just like any other greens) and it contains the leaf taste to make it
better.Easily manageable on heat.
<b>3 what is the correct way to place food on the banana leaf?</b>
a) The sweet should be placed 1st and followed by the
vegetables(side dishes) - to begin. After that followed by white rice
and curry(sambar), rasam, payasam. Just as a human life how it begins
sweetly and face and encounter good and bad (side dishes -
sour,sweet,bitter & etc), white rice is our pure human life - soul/sambar is a
kalavai of human life with the side dishes.After having all that our later
age - we have become composed and knowledgable resembling rasam
(experiences and encounters
mellow down)than you gain the enlightenment with sweet again payasam.
narrowed part should be placed on the left hand side and the broad end
should be on the right basically giving more room for the right hand to
get the food comfortably to eat/the unwanted items (like chilli and
etc) can be placed at the broad end.
<b>4 what is the reason for using the tail*(should be head end) end of
the banana leaf to serve prasatham or to serve special guest?</b>
a) It's called Thalai Vazhalillai - In our body Sirasae prathanam
meaning very important part.Also, Thalai Vazha illai represents our
humbleness and we are not permanent on this earth. We will give the
best to God. Thalai is an important word. We give more respect for thalai
ex: Thalai pillai, padai thalai & etc. So humble /bow down ( no
arrogance ) is the best thing we could do as human being. Thalai vazhai
illai's narambu centre vein is thinner and wouldn't tear easily as of the
broad tail end.
<b>5 what is the correct way of folding the banana leaf after eating?</b>
Those days they don't fold the banana leaves, this would enable the
guess to know whether the food was good.Only the hostess has to fold
and throw. Over the years they folded and I think it should be from the
outter side to the ourside ther as to say I have completed and had
enough satisfied meal.
<b>6 Why is it that the hostess always carries the banana leaf away to
dispose it?</b>
Thanathil siranthathu annathanam, So if the punniyam must be
completed, it's good to remove someone else illai by bowing ourselves
to remove, getting their person's blessings. People who had the
satisfied meals would be tired and while we remove it they appreciate and bless
us.These punniyam is what needed for the hostess.
<b>7 Is there any special enzymes etc on banana leaves?</b>
I don't think any special enzymes are there. Banana tree is the
only tree represents human life. This tree is never wasted, it only
gives combs of bananas once (Vazhai maram - kulai oru tharam thaan
thalum). Human life will be complete by their Offspring. The banana leave got
no unpleasant odour and it is just like any other green where by get's
soft when they get heated, this enable the food to have the value and
not changing the taste and added taste to the food. Most of the leaves
will have some odour or scent, which change the taste of the food. Can
you think of any leave which can hold the food to cook without any
change?
<b>8 Is there any special banana leaf myths, folklores or stories?</b>
In Mahabharatham - Lord Krishna requested the Pandavas to offer
food to the people( Anna thanam) When the people in the kingdom
finished the food, Krishna rushed to remove their leaves. The pandavas were
shocked and questioned Krishna. He replied, no point only offering, also
must humble ourselves to collect it to get the best -deeds( puniyam).
The pandavas realised it and started removing the leaves. This is partly
to win the Kuruhsethras war. Blessings are more important than
anything.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->