The Banana Leaf

As I walked past the villa on the 5th avenue, which everybody was talking about, in terms of the rich plantation of banana plants in a small patch of land in front of the house, I was impressed with the way in which the owner of the villa had supports in place for the rich banana yield. The fruit, I thought to myself, is fragile and delicate and here was a family that had taken time and patience to grow these banana plants.

Mythologically, my parents had always shared stories with us as kids about how growing banana trees were considered auspicious. The stories had various associations with Lord Vishnu who is considered Lord of wealth and prosperity. Hence banana trees were harbingers of prosperity which is tailed by good health, luck and peace. Also considered a sacred plant, the banana plants being used to please gods, in rituals, festive occasions, marriage halls and temple visits and other such associations rushed through my thoughts. In India, in particular, no temple visit is considered complete unless the gods are offered bananas and coconuts. Like the coconut tree, the banana tree is put to various uses in Hindu homes. The trunk is used for decoration, the fruit is a good offering made to gods, the leaves are used to place the offerings in front of the gods and the flower of the tree is also used as a vegetable. Wonder whether this is the reason behind a banana tree not being woody?

Eating out of a banana leaf at least once in 6 months back home was a ritual and especially on festive days like Navaratri and Ganesha Chathurthi. Lord Ganesha’s favourite fruit is the banana and he is served on banana leaves on his birthday. Mythology also has it that he married the banana tree and hence his pandal is decorated with banana leaves. Goddess Durga his mother is also worshipped during Navaratri in her pandal with banned trees. The banana tree, being symbolic with Jupiter in astrology, has a very different significance. The banana leaf patterns, I recalled are similar to the pattern of the palms of our hand. The lines and the shape are identical. Hence astrology says that the banana leaf is a portrait of our destiny. Wonder whether this is the reason behind eating out of a banana leaf during festivities so that our future is altered for the better!

Astrology also claims that the lines on our palms, rather the patterns of our palms change. Guests and not enemies are served at our homes. Serving guests back home was always a delight when the spread is on a banana leaf. The palms are used by the people who serve us food on a banana leaf and the spoons or ladles are used only to serve certain dishes. The fingers are also used by the guest to eat the food and I am yet to come across people eating the variety of food served on a banana leaf with spoons and forks. The belief is that the more we serve on the banana leaf to guests, the more we get.

The spread of food is also varied when served on banana leaves and a certain order followed while serving. The salt is served at the left corner of the leaf, the least reached spot on the leaf. In other words the salt and the pickle are served at the narrow end of the leaf. Lesser the salt better for health is the saying, while the other argument would be to add the salt and manage the taste to our desire. The side dishes come in an order thereafter, starting with the cucumber salad, called ‘kosambari’, the dry vegetable dishes and then the gravies and rice and sweet and curds. So the salad is consumed first and then the oily and greasy food. Mixing of food is also easier when banana leaves are used to serve food and hence the guest would eat in peace and abundance.

Olden days had no furniture seating at marriages and festivals and hence the banana leaf on the floor required water sprinkling and many elders of the family would also place ball of rice next to the leaf so as to distract all insects. Folding of the leaf after food also had a quiet communication; the upper half of the leaf when folded inwards indicated that the guest was contented with the food, while the other way round meant otherwise and an insult to the host. Not to forget that the banana leaf is also biodegradable and nature friendly. Also, banana leaves have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Ergonomy and hygiene combined as compared to the harmful plastic plates. My daughter has always relished fish when wrapped and steamed in banana leaves while I have relished all other banana delicacies.

As I move away from the villa that had the banana trees, I heard myself saying…now they are green, soon they will turn yellow before they go black..special benefits indeed during this Ganesha Chathurthi as the mud idols are immersed in water and the banana trees would await another year to come. Happy Ganesha as we pray that you come back every year to bless us!