1. Branched out in categories :
1.1. Religion
1.1.1. used to distribute Prasadam (food offerings) to devotees
1.1.2. the entire plant is considered to be holy
1.1.3. lord Ganesh is another deity who is very fond of banana leaves
1.1.4. A Banana leaf and fruits are offered to lord Vishnu and goddess Lakshmi as a religious offering.
1.2. Social
1.2.1. Banana leaf used in kerala for onam
1.3. Cultural
1.3.1. In olden days, until a century ago, a would-be son-in-law was tested on his dexterity in making a patravali plate and bowl (for serving more liquid parts of the meal such as daal or stew) before being declared acceptable by the soon to be father-in-law.
1.3.2. Folding sybolism
1.4. Geographical
1.4.1. The plates are popular in villages in arid region in India like parts of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, madhya pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu etc.
1.5. Political
1.6. Economical
1.6.1. Cost
1.6.1.1. per plate
1.6.1.2. in a bunch
1.6.2. What kind of Investment does the material provide as a product?
1.6.2.1. No wastage of water
1.6.2.2. Banana leaf is a very economical option especially in weddings, no need to spend extra money on utensils like plates.
1.6.2.3. no need of dishwashers
1.7. Material
1.7.1. Types
1.7.1.1. Areca Leaf Plate
1.7.1.2. Sal leaves
1.7.1.3. Banyan tree
1.7.1.4. Jackfruit Leafs
1.7.1.5. the bastard teak leaf
1.7.1.6. lotus leafs
1.7.2. Sizes
1.7.3. Capacity
1.7.4. How is it held
1.7.4.1. when transported, it is folded and a rope is tied around it to keep it intact and for the leaf to not be torn.
1.7.4.2. when eating, it's placed on the table or on the floor if the food is being served on the floor.
1.7.4.3. it is not possible to hold the banana leaf on one hand like a plate and eat as the contents inside would fall down from the sides and would be very difficult for the user to ear while holding it
1.7.5. How does the material feel
1.7.5.1. Texture
1.7.5.2. heat transfer
1.7.5.3. sound
1.7.6. The balance, the center of gravity
1.7.6.1. when full
1.7.6.1.1. the food contents falls inwards as there is a bulge because of the stem of the leaf, the banana leaf is placed horizontally on the table of floor when eaten
1.7.6.2. when empty
1.7.6.2.1. the pressure is mainly on the center, the team, and the ends of the leaf that touches the surface below it making the leaf flatter.
1.7.6.3. when folded
1.7.6.3.1. can be folded upwards and downwards, when filled the contents help in keeping the fold intact and remain in place, if empty the leaf may topple over.
1.8. Zeitgeigt
1.8.1. eco-friendly packaging
1.8.1.1. used to be used to eat food on, now we are using it for packaging purposes as banning or reducing single-use plastic bags in supermarkets is a growing trend in Asia.
1.8.2. Started using it as plates
1.8.2.1. roughly dated back to - 5th or 6th century AD
1.9. Nature
1.9.1. How does the Material Affect the contents?
1.9.1.1. The chemical which makes banana leaves antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-fungal is EGCG {Epigallocatechin gallate}.
1.10. Technology
1.10.1. Banana leaf technology is an environmentally friendly cellular system that preserves leaves and natural biomaterials for a year without any chemicals being used.
1.11. Symbolism
1.11.1. an offering plant symbolizes both abundance and fertility
1.11.2. Folding symbolism
1.11.2.1. folding the leaf upwards indicates you enjoyed the meal
1.11.2.2. folding it downwards indicated you did not like the way you were served and felt you weren't hosted well
2. My Take
2.1. Use of Banana Leaf
2.1.1. The leaves have a wide range of applications because they are large, flexible, waterproof and decorative. They are used for cooking, wrapping, and food-serving in a wide range of cuisines in tropical and subtropical areas.
2.1.2. Banana leaves are large, flexible, and waterproof. They impart an aroma to food that is cooked in or served on them; steaming with banana leaves imparts a subtle sweet flavor and aroma to the dish. The leaves are not themselves eaten and are discarded after the contents are consumed.