The 'Paan-Daan'...more than just table decor

The 'Paan-daan', a lustrous metal container with a round tray and small boxes to store betel leaves and all that goes onto the leaf to orchestrate that perfect 'Paan'...

'Paan-daans' have been used for many centuries.They were gifted to visitors and noble guests during ancient times by Mughal emperors, some made of silver, others of brass, copper and similar precious metals. They say in those days, the size and the weight of the 'paan-daan' would be an indication of the royal court's status and grandeur ! 

For me however, the sight of this gorgeous container takes me back in time to my grandmother's home...these are memories of a six (maybe five) year old, the slightly blurred visions of me looking on, as her practiced hands deftly opened the lid of the 'paan-daan' and she carefully selected a 'yellowish-green' leaf from it, shook off the droplets of water from the surface, and smeared it with the 'kathha' and 'choona' from the assorted 'dibbis' in the 'paan-daan'. This was a gaze of wonderment and awe, at the precision, finesse and the art involved in making the perfect 'paan' that was to be savoured as her post lunch digestive, and at the dazzling container that housed the ingredients for it.

The other thoughts are those of the beautiful antique 'paan-daans' we have at my parents' home in India, family heirlooms. It would be unfair to call them just 'collectibles' for they have been part of our lives for many many years. If only they could speak, they would have many interesting stories to share with you all :-)

And now we have one of our own at our home in South Korea... :-)

Yes this one is sans the 'paan ka patta' and the smaller containers have no 'kathha' to boast of, nor is there any 'laung-elaichi' huddled up together inside it. Yet, it is content sitting atop the table in our living room....gracing the spot and looking on, as we go about making a whole new set of memories, writing new chapters, documenting a different chronicle in our lives. It is a part and parcel of our world, just like everything else in our home, and some day in the future, it will have its own narratives to deliver, it's own tales to tell. As of now it is happy soaking it all in, gleaming and glistening its days away, a quiet, but majestic spectator in our little nook :-)

Must tell you this, when it arrived and made its place as table decor in our home, both the 'paan-daan' and I (and in that order),received a quizzical glance from the husband, '..what is that now ?!' he asked in a tone which was somewhere in between bewilderment and curiosity, a bit of fascination too perhaps ? :-) But now I think he has grown to love it too, appreciating its position of honour in his better halve's memories, and in the world of curios and interior decor :-)

Our 'paan-daan' ladies and gentlemen, a little more than table-embellishment this ! :-)