Kalu Khani thalee facts for kids
Kalu-Khani Thalee were special plates used a long time ago in Pakistan. These deep dishes were made from earthenware (a type of clay) and had a shiny, colorful coating called glaze. People used them for big parties or when many people worked together in a group called Hashar. This was a tradition where everyone helped each other.
These plates were popular in villages in the Swabi District of Pakistan. They were used until about the late 1900s. Almost every family had some of these pretty, colorful plates. They used them to serve food to guests during celebrations.
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What Was Served in Kalu-Khani Thalee?
People usually served hot chicken curry in these dishes. One plate could hold enough food for 4 to 6 people to share. They also added a special thick paste called Lawanr.
The Special Lawanr
Lawanr was a thick mixture. It was cooked to make the chicken curry thicker. It was made from Shumle (a type of thin chicken curry) and maize flour.
How People Ate Together
It was a custom to chop tandoori bread into small pieces. These pieces were then soaked in the curry right in the dish. Everyone would eat from the same dish together. The meal was a tasty mix of chopped bread, a bit of spicy Lawanr, and thin chicken curry.
Sharing the Chicken Pieces
The spicy chicken pieces were cooked separately. An older person from the host family would then give out the chicken pieces. They would give one piece to each guest. This was done carefully, showing respect to each person.
Where Did Kalu-Khani Thalee Come From?
These special dishes came from a village called Kalu Khan. This village is in the Razzar area of the Swabi district. The potters (people who make pottery) in Kalu Khan village were very famous for making these dishes. That is why the dishes were named after the village.
The Art of Glazed Pottery
Glazed pottery was once a great art. It was very popular in the Kashmir valley. This art was then brought to the old Peshawar valley, which includes the area where Kalu-Khani Thalee were made.
