Garo tribe is among the major hill tribes in Meghalaya in Northeast India. It is well known for its artistic craftsmanship and symbolic reflection of nature in the common objects being used every day. The wooden dish with a handle that has been crafted into a flattened, round, serving utensil shaped to resemble a tortoise-an animal that often symbolizes longevity, stability, and protection in many indigenous traditions-is just one best example of their creative expression and cultural identity. The flat, circular body forms the central holding area for food. The dish is carved from a single piece of wood. The uniqueness of the section is a handle that is intricately carved in the likeness of a tortoise' head. A short wooden knob has been added at the opposite end of the dish, creating an appearance of a tail and thus finishing the studied appearance of the tortoise. It is not just simple dishes, but also metaphorical, representing the harmony that the Garo people really believe about nature and respect for animals.

The tortoise-shaped dish symbolizes for the Garos the culmination of thought through design; it merges the utilitarian with the ceremonial purpose that this dish serves as they would serve food traditionally during festivals, during rituals, or at special family gatherings to each member of the household. The dish would best describe how the Garo people practiced their natural motifs and incorporate very practical designs in making their home household articles, converting them into cultural artifacts functional and deeply rooted in tradition.