1.2 Name of the element, as used by the community or group concerned
Date juice extraction and related activities
1.3 Short, maximally informative title (including indication of domain(s))
Date juice, alternately known as the wild, sugar or silver date palm, phoenix sylvestris, is cultivated and tapped to be consumed fresh, or processed, in Bangladesh. It is a popular culinary practice that falls in the ICH Domain of Social practices, rituals and festive events
1.4 Community(ies)/group(s) that recognize the element as part of their cultural heritage
All villagers who have date trees.
1.5 Physical location(s) of the element/how often it is practiced
All over Bangladesh; while this documentation is based on practices of Bhaluka, Mymeningh
1.6 Short description (max. 200words)
1.7 Domain of the element (select one or more/suggest alternative domain)
2. Characteristics of the element
2.1 Practitioners(s)/performer(s): roles, age, gender, social status, and/or professional category etc)
Male (farmer, agri-business entrepreneur) : age : 25-50
Female (homemaker) : age : 24-55
2.2 Other tradition bearers (individuals/groups and their roles)
The culinary art of making desserts like Pithas (rice cakes), Jaggery, Molasses and Palm sugar
2.6 How are women and people of other genders associated with this ICH element
Women are directly involved in this tangible element. They process the juice and produce hot liquid molasses stored in terracotta pots. With the exception of a little, usually consumed as fresh juice, this liquid molasses will be frozen and made into a paste. Clothes are being spread on the soil. In order to make Patali molasses, the juice will be poured over desserts like 'sauce'.
2.7 Division of labour during the practice of aforementioned ICH element
The bark and a bit of the pith of the trunk are shaved everyday, by an expert called gachi (গাছি). This is done very delicately, to make the juice or sap flow. Women heat the raw juice to purify it, and then the hot liquid molasses is =poured into a pot. With the exception of a little, this liquid molasses will be frozen and made into a paste. Pouches made of fabric are being spread on the ground, in order to make Patali molasses, The juice is poured in this sauce. Then Patali molasses of date juice is poured in the pot.
2.8 Customary practices governing access to the element or to aspects of it
The art and knowledge of extracting the juice from the Date Palm Tree is needed to be able to access this practice.
2.9 Modes of transmission
Planting more date trees, and teaching younger generation the art of extraction. is necessary to procure the juice. However, processing of the juice and making sweet dishes is another aspect of maintaining this culture.
2.10 Organizations concerned (non-governmental organizations and others)
The Department of Agriculture, of the Govt. of Bangladesh, has commissioned research into this practice.
3. State of the element (viability)
3.1 Threats to the enactment (if any)
Unfortunately, for future generations the sweet delights of the wild date palm might not be such a quintessential marker of winter. Date trees are declining in numbers and few people are interested in taking up date syrup harvesting as a profession now.
“In the first decade of this century wild date palm numbers fell by about 30pc nationwide,†says Rofiqul Alam, who worked as director of a Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute project covering Palmyra, nipa and wild date palms. He notes the palms grow in about 30 districts where conditions are favourable, including throughout greater Jessore.Â
While Alam's estimate is based on experience, the exact number of wild date palms in Bangladesh is unknown. One survey from 2010 records that up to 15,000 hectares of the country are covered by either wild date or Palmyra palms.
In Jessore, the Department of Agriculture Extension (the DAE) tallied the number of trees at around 7 lakhs in 2008, falling to 5.41 lakhs by 2013, before rising again to 6.75 lakhs in 2015, a rise they attribute to their own initiatives.
Nonetheless it is commonly observed by Jessore locals that the number of mature palms has decreased, despite strong demand for the tree's syrup.
The deputy director of Jessore DAE Nittyaranjan Biswas believes a major reason for the decline is because there are fewer professionals, known as a “gachhiâ€, available nowadays to cut the tree trunks and extract the sap.
3.2 Threats to the transmission (if any)
The art of extraction by a 'gauchi' is certainly not threatened, but certainly loosing popularity.
3.3 Threat to associated tangible elements and resources (if any)
Not any
3.4 Viability of associated intangible elements (if any)
All food processed with molasses and jaggery from date sap will become rare if 1) reforestation plans for date palms are not put into place.
3.5 Safeguarding measures in place (if any)
Though there is a concern, and research into the viability of this practice has been undertaken, there are still no concrete projects.
4. Data gathering/documentation, Consent and preparation of inventory entries
4.1 Consent of community/group/individuals concerned for data collection with a view to inventorying
Yes they have
4.2 Restrictions, if any, on use of data collected
No restriction
5. Resource Person
5.1 Persons/groups, including community representatives
Didarul -ul Alam
5.2 Date(s) and place(s) of data gathering
Date : 2020-05-18 Place(s) : 18-05-20, Bhaluka, Mymensingh
6. Safeguarding techniques
6.1 Existing safeguarding techniques in the community for the safeguarding of the ICH element
Planting more trees
6.2 Suggestions for safeguarding of the ICH element from the community
Planting more trees
Commercial sale of date juice, jaggery and molasses.
Celebrating these practices through village festivals.
7. References to literature, discography, audiovisual materials or archives
7.1 References to/in literature
Alam, Muhammad Moniruld, Muhammad Mohiul Alam, Muhammad Samad Miah, and Muhammad Alam. 2008. "Date Palm Cultivation in Bangladesh: Farmers’ Practices." Pakistan Sugar Journal (Sugarcane Research and Development Board (SRDB)) 23 (4).
Chowdhury, M.S.H., M.A. Halim, N. Muhammed, F. Haque, and M. Koike. 2008.
"Traditional utilization of wild date palm (Phoenix sylvestris Roxb) in rural Bangladesh: An approach to sustainable biodiversity management." Journal of Forestry Research 19 (1): 245- 251.
Correspondent. 2017. Extraction of date palm juice begins in Jhenidah. November 4. http://m.theindependentbd.com/arcprint/details/122043/2017-11-04.
Shuvo, Mokammel, and Andrew Eagle. 2016. Jessore's signature date juice gets scarce. February 21. Accessed May 24, 2020. https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/date-juice-road-be-history-575461.
7.2 Audiovisual materials or archives
7.3 Discography or archives
Not applicable
8. Modalities for updating the information contained in the inventory entry
8.1 Persons/groups, including community representatives, who compiled the inventory entry
Riza Ali Dristy
8.2 Consent of community/group/individuals concerned for data collection with a view to inventorying
Not applicable now
8.3 Date of community consent to include the entry on an inventory
2020-05-18
8.4 Present condition of the cultural element
Becoming less
9. Community suggestions
(a)Brief description of suggestions for safeguarding of the element by community members/experts/holders, if any
Planting more trees
Raising awareness among people about date juice
(b)Brief description of restrictions on use of data collected, if any