CHEENA CHATTI-FRYING PAN

Friends
Mostly in simplified version people call it as CHEENCHATTI. Those with vyulpathhi will say as cheena chatti. I am not sure in what way it is
connected with China, like Cheena Bharani, Cheena chatti too was initially brought from China or not. Let me start Cheena chatti puranam

Sincerely
Gopala krishnan 18-2-2011.

1. Oldest cheena chatti

In my memorable days cheena chatti was black in colour. Inside used to be smooth and outside rough. Cheena chatti was a PAN made by
casting, and it was brittle slightly. If cheena chatti was having even slightest break in middle, even while seasoning mustard etc, oil fill ooze out
of it and flames could occur.

The main constituent material used is good quality iron in casting. Just like earthenware iron pipes, I am not sure the other material used could
be small quantity of sand powder? LEARNT MEMBERS CAN WRITE ABOUT IT.

The smoke used to adhere the bottom while use, and even with best cleanings it may not go 98%. Cheena chatti is not used in temple kitchens.

1a. Cleaning cheenachatti

Cleaning cheena chatti was a punishment given to erring servant lady on those days. To day if you give a smoked cheena chatti for cleaning
continuously for two days, the servant lady will stop coming for work with out assigning reasons. First day she will clean it as last item, inside
clean, out side 45% clean, the best one servants.

I have seen my wife clean the cheena chatti, (even latest model of hindalium) the simple reason, if given to lady servant she will become
annoyed on the full day.  Getting her back if she leaves from work is the horn of horse now a day!!!

2. Older version of cheena chatti.

I think by 1965's cheena chatti used to appear in grey colour and this made an end to black ones gradually.

I do recollect while my father (after retirement) and brother were running hard were shop there used to be grey cheena chatti. They were
procured from Shornur moulding units. I am not sure whether the change of colour was due to tin adding.

But the same too was brittle, but breaking chances were reduced by 50%, out side was some smoother. In course of time they too became
black.

I think the only black item used on those days was our friend cheena chatti in the kitchen.

3. Description of cheena chatti.

Cheena chatti used to be like a 45% cut of a hollow metal ball. The diameter used to vary between 1.25 feet to 0.75 feet. The thickness of
moulding used to be near about one centimetre.

To hold cheena chatti two handles were inserted on the top exactly opposite while moulding. People will not purchase cheena chatti, if slightest
shake was in handle. In Malayalam it is called "kaathu or piti".

4. Holding cheena chatti.

For holding cheena chatti and such hot vessels the general practice in Kerala is/was with paper or cloth. In kitchen working table, there will be
two or four sets of thick folded paper or thick cotton bits. It was used to hold the handle.

The tool (?) IDUKKI was/ is unknown to Kerala, specially in central Kerala. Having daughter in laws from Tamilnadu, in most of the houses the
system has changed to hold with IDUKKI now. Now in metal shops different models and types of idukki are available as required. I am an idukki
man after coming over to Tamilnadu. It is safer, specially for the elders for holding.
5. Cheena chatti in hardware shops

Cheena chatti was mostly sold in shops dealing hardware. Other way   the shops were hardware cum metal ware shops. Today hardware in
addition deal cement and paint only.

6. Kaathu poya cheena chatti.

It was a synonym used on those days. The proudness of cheena chatti is its fixed handle. If handle has come out or even shaking it become
useless. Even old metal merchants will not take cheenachatti as a scrap item. So a person lost his profession or money is indirectly told by the
synonym.

7. Appearance of Hindalium cheena chatti

The black and grey were pushed back almost to netherworld, with the appearance of moulded hindalium. Now most of the metal shops having
this model, mostly appearing like stainless steel. Now the material used for cheenachatti is the same as for a pressure cooker. Now too the
bottom is rough, lesser than old cheena chatti. Models with out handles are there, thanks to the tool IDUKKI. Some how still cleaning the
bottom, even with gas stoves, is a tough work. Especially when we make karandi appam.

8. Cooking in cheena chatti.

Cheena chatti is used to prepare mezhukkupuratti, thoran, upperi, frying, and for karandiappam, masala etc and always for seasoning. It is also
used to prepare noodles, uppuma etc. Whatever the preparation, the preparation sticking to bottom has a special taste irrespective of the
material used for cheena chatti.

  Even now, when mezhukkupuratti is fried and seasoned a small portion will stick to bottom. Add one handful of rice to it and eat. It has special
taste. In olden days it had the taste of something like iron, but now too it is very tasty.

9. Place of cheena chatti.

Just like Kari veppila (curry leaves), the position of cheena chatti is not in par with other cooking utensils. Cheena chatti's place is always in the
work area, though it is required for every hour of cooking use. Women folk arrange other items in kitchen shelf, but push cheenachatti to work
area.

10 Place in samskara

During death related samskaras danam of oil is given in cheena chatti. The person who receives danam has to look his face in the oil, and then
receive it. Having no person to receive danam, mostly it is kept as dattham now a day. Sasthrikal prefer black cheena chatti for this.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

I am R. Gopala krishnan 67, retired Asst General manger from BSNL Trivandrum Kerala. I am a Kerala Iyer now settled in Chennai. I had an
aptitude for writing from boyhood days.

Now in free time I give to the needy ASTROLOGY CONSULTATIONS.