The Anaadi Dinner Collection (Set of 15)

Each piece in the collection focuses on a particular element of nature. The dots and dashes, traditional to Gond art, are used to create an illusion of continuous movement or timelessness while forming patterns that represent the seed, the tree and the flower, symbolic of the past, present and future.

The organic-shaped, hand-crafted dinner plates, focus on the Mahua tree or the ‘tree of life’ which in Gondi culture is celebrated as one of the most sacred trees, passed down from generation to generation.

The greenish-white flower of the tree has multiple culinary and medicinal uses. While the day celebrates its practical use, the night connects the Mahua tree as an observer of life spiritually. Symbolic of its immortality, the rare flower, even if it is dried, comes back to life, once immersed in water. Different parts of the tree are also used in ceremonies to spiritually connect with the Gondi people in birth, marriage and death.

The two plates illustrate the moral tale of the tribal deity Pashupati turning into a parrot, tiger and boar under the influence of the mahua drink, known as an organic alcoholic beverage in the Gondi culture. The legend goes, that the deity after drinking mahua first starts babbling like a parrot, then roars like a tiger and eventually, unable to stand on his feet, he starts rolling on the ground like a boar. Propounding responsible drinking, it teaches, that ‘iruk’ or the mahua flower brings people together when consumed socially in celebration but should not be taken in secrecy.

Each quarter plate celebrates a tree that is intimately connected to Gond Culture:

Saja Tree: Represents the ultimate creator, Bada Dev. The plate depicts the origin story, according to which a crow was created and tasked with finding clay. Along the way, the bird found Kekda mal, the crab and together they dug up the earthworm which spewed out the soil. Over water, the Makda dev (spider king) spun a web, the soil from the earthworm was scattered over it and thus land was created. Badadev then released all living creatures on the land.

Tamarind tree: Sacred, worshipping platforms for Gond deities are often built under Tamarind trees. The pod-like fruit depicted on the plate, is used to make chutney. Usually, the same also serves as a means of livelihood for the people. Thus, the tamarind tree is symbolic of both the spiritual and the realities connected to the Gond people.

Peepal tree: Represents the house of Trimurti - Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. While one half of the plate holds intricate patterns of peepal leaves, the other side highlights the lotus, symbolic of Lord Vishnu, & purity, rebirth and strength.  

Pakri tree: The various flowers illustrated on the plate represent the deity Thakur Dev in Gond culture, who is associated with the Pakri tree. It is also believed that Pakri leaves are cooked to make saag, a dish which protects people from illnesses.

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