It is love in a heart-shaped leaf. There are myths, legends and folktales around it, and even ancient scriptures pay ode to the importance of paan or betel leaf in love, life and health.
It has adorned the royal spreads of many kings. Has been a companion to queens. Has assisted thinkers and artists, and has inspired poetry as well. From being presented as royal gifts wrapped in gold and silver leafs, to divine offering for deities, and from sealing bonds of friendships to a must in wedding rituals, the paan (betel leaf and also when the leaf is wrapped into a cone with condiments) has been an intrinsic part of Indian history and tradition.
The ubiquitous panwadi (paan seller) dishing out tightly wrapped betel leaf cones filled with a variety of fillings is a part of the Indian panorama. His work, though, is no less than an art - pulling out a paan leaf from under a moist cloth, applying slaked lime and kattha (a paste made from extract of khair tree), adding a few slices of supari (areca nut), a sprinkle of aromatic condiments and then expertly folding it into a neat cone, before presenting it with a flourish. From Lucknow's melt-in- the-mouth malai paan (also called balai ki gilori) and Northeast's tambol (supari) wrapped in paan to West Bengal's paan er khili, Bihar's elusive maghai paan and the popular Banarasi variety - paan has a pan- India appeal.
A symbol of prosperity, paan is a part of several religious ceremonies and social traditions. It is symbolic of respectful hospitality.
Here's some more...
Paan is cultivated across India. Traditionally, the leaves are stored in bamboo baskets, kept in the dark and cured with smoke. Too much water spoils them and too little dries them.
Betel is an aromatic creeper, and you can easily grow it as an ornamental plant in your home.
It's said the Portuguese coined the name betel, from the Indian word 'vettile'.
Experts say paan has originated from the Sanskrit word parna, which means 'leaf'.
Art of paan
It also has had a deep influence on culture, craft and traditions of India. The heart-shaped paan motif is common in Indian textiles. Jewellery too often draws inspiration from the shape, and so does a host of accessories the embroidered batwa (small bag) to carry the paandan (box for paan leaves), a sarota (areca nut cutter) and pikdaan (a vessel to spit after chewing paan). In former royal households, a person trained in the art of making paan would be in charge of the elaborate and artistic process. Each family had a unique recipe. Some would boil the areca nut in milk, while others soaked it in rose water. Ingredients were kept secret and so were paan-folding techniques! Ingredients to prepare the paan could range from cardamom, clove, mace, nutmeg, camphor, fennel seeds, dried fruits, coconut powder, khoya (thickened milk) or gulkand (dried rose petals in sugar syrup). In South India, a rice dish cooked with betel leaf and garlic, vetrilai sadam, is very popular.
Health in a leaf
Wellness traditions consider paan to be important for health - as a mouth freshener and digestive. Dr. Avni Kaul, a nutritionist, says, "Betel leaves provide vitamin C, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, carotene and calcium. Chewing paan after a meal increases the metabolic rate of the body." An Ayurvedic practitioner claims "Chewing paan reduces medha dhatu (body fat) and increases the metabolic rate of the body. But it ought to be combined with the right natural ingredients."
Popular Song Lyrics of Khaike Pan Banaras Wala from movie Don (1978)
Singer: Kishore Kumar Music Director : Kalayanji-Anandji Writer : Anjaan-Indeevar
Hmmmm burr burr
Arrey bhang kaa rang jamaa ho chakaachak
Phir lo paan chabaay
Aa umm umm, aahaa!
Arrey aisaa jhatkaa lage jiyaa pe
Punar janam hoi jaay
O khaike paan banaaras vaalaa
O khaike paan banaaras vaalaa
Khul jaaye band akal kaa taalaa… (2)
Phir to aisaa kare dhamaal
Seedhi kar de sabki chaalO chhoraa gangaa kinaare vaalaa… (2)
O khaaike paan…
Uun…
Arrey ram duhaai ee ee ee, kaise chakkar mein pad gayaa haay haay haay…
Kahaan jaan fansaai ee ee ee, main to sooli pe chadh gayaa haay haay
Kaisaa seedhaa saadaa main kaisaa bholaa bhaalaa, haan haan!
Arrey, kaisaa seedhaa saadaa main kaisaa bholaa bhaalaa
Jaane kaun ghadi mein pad gayaa padhe-likhon se paalaa
Meethi chhoori se, meethi chhoori se huaa halaal
Chhoraa gangaa kinaare vaalaa
O chhoraa gangaa kinaare vaalaa
O khaike paan banaaras vaalaa
Khul jaaye band akal kaa taalaa
Uun…
Ek kanyaa kunvaari ee ee ee hamri soorat pe mar gayee haay haay haay
Ek meethi kataari ee ee ee, hamre dil mein utar gayee haay haay
Kaisi gori gori vo teekhi teekhi chhori, vaah vaah!
Arrey kaisi gori gori vo teekhi teekhi chhori
Karke joraa-jori, kar gayee hamre dil ki chorii
Mili chhori to, mili chhori to huaa nihaal
Chhoraa gangaa kinaare vaalaa
O chhoraa gangaa kinaare vaalaa
O khaike paan banaaras vaalaa
Khul jaaye band akal kaa taalaa
O khaaike paan…
O chhoraa gangaa kinaare vaalaa, haan!
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