A Vessel of Modern Aestheticism With a Traditional Core

The Uruli became a household name during the Diwali of 2023 as it made a domestic entry through mainstream commercialism. This is the story of how the Uruli usurped its traditional position and took the form of the jubilant and flowery vessel, which has now become a common sight during every Indian festival.

The Beauty and Charm of a Simple Uruli Bowl | Source: Pinterest

The delightful festival of lights, Diwali, is as thrilling and glittering as the festival of lights should be. However, this Diwali was slightly different, featuring a new aesthetic edition called Urulis. One may not know what an Uruli is, but they have surely seen it at some point in their lives. An Uruli or Urli is a huge circular vessel with little density but a wide berth to accommodate a good amount of liquid or food items.

Though originally used for cooking purposes, the traditional Urli has been adapted by contemporary India most creatively and beautifully. Urulis are traditional cooking vessels made of copper or brass, prominently used in South India. As one must already be aware, the southern part of the country has a rich variety in terms of its rich and magnificent temples, hence the need to make large qualities of Prasadam. This is where the Uruli dominates the picture.

But one can rightfully wonder what speciality the Uruli possesses that is specifically used for the preparation of Prasadam or cooking various other kinds of delicacies. To understand this, it's better to comprehend the geometry of this container, which gives it an edge. The Uruli is designed in such a manner that it manages to retain the natural colouring and flavour of the ingredients used in cooking. It is wider in surface but retains less stuff in terms of density; this allows the food prepared inside the Uruli to cook well without getting mixed with too much quantity. Isn’t it said that shaping one’s individuality leads to better prospects? Well, the same goes for the food prepared in Urulis. Though it's just a vessel.

However, with time and population explosion, Urulis were found to be redundant as cooking for more people required double time if Urulis were used for cooking. Though some temples did maintain the custom of using Urulis for the preparation of Prasadam, the practice has been largely phased out. Now, Urulis are only used for special occasions and, at most times, used only for maintaining the image of sanctity and culture of certain temples and traditions.

But humans, especially Indians, always find innovative ways to mash up traditional customs in creative manners, and that’s what the contemporary Uruli is all about. Given its wide berth and shiny exterior, the Uruli has been given a makeover and transformed into an aesthetic prop. Though calling it a mere prop would be some kind of injustice, as it's been used for decorative purposes mostly; it won't be wrong.

This Diwali saw an explosive response to the adaption and introduction of the traditional Urulis into almost every Indian household. Filled with fragrant water, with flower petals sprinkled on it and scented candles floating on its sparkling surface, the Uruli has become a new addition to the spirit and the beauty of Diwali. One can say that the Uruli, even though it has lost its earliest and original significance, with this modern twist has again been accepted and entered the lives of the people, whose forefathers for the very first time introduced it and used it for centuries.