Madhya Pradesh's Bhil tribe, in one of the oldest and largest tribal communities in India, has remained deeply concerned with traditional practices and sustainable living. Among several handcrafted domestic items produced by the tribe, the wooden dish is of the utmost importance-an epitome of tribal craftsmanship and resourcefulness in making useful things from nature. The wooden dish is generally a large and round dish made from one single piece of wood. The flat and broad surface is just perfect for kneading flour-thus an everyday chore for a Bhil household. What sets the rich artifact apart is the design of the dish, which has presumably a flattened rim from which two small handles are cut. Hold these handles to carry and lift it; the handles reveal the Bhil artisans' awareness of ergonomics.
The dish is used in the kitchen primarily by women and makes for an extremely sturdy and reliable base on which to prepare dough for various traditional breads like rotis or bhakris. Highly durable and non-wearable even under constant use, the dish, being a single piece of the solid wooden design, makes it sustainable too. The hardwood is locally sourced, giving it an additional mark in the approval of the ecological balance. The wooden dish then is useful but serves as a symbol of self-sufficiency and craftsmanship for the Bhil. Each time a wooden dish is manufactured, the process involves craftsmanship, plus these dishes often get passed on from one generation to another, symbolizing heritage and functional use. Enough said, the wooden dish stands as testimony to the Bhil tribe's sustainable way of living and a deep-rooted connection with nature.