All about lyagans

Connoisseurs of oriental cuisine certainly know what lyagan is and what it is intended for. If it is important to feel not only the taste of Central Asian dishes, but also to plunge into the national flavor, then table setting in the oriental style is necessary, which cannot be imagined without a large dish in the center of a dastarkhan with pilaf or manti. By what criteria to choose lyagan, what varieties they have, how to care for such dishes - we will tell you in our article.

Lyagan is a large dish or a large plate intended for serving national dishes in the countries of Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan). From such utensils, they collect the main dish into their plates, and if it is pilaf, then it is eaten directly from the lagan, using a cutlery or a pinch from the fingers. Lyagans are used, as a rule, when setting a festive table, but they can also be seen in everyday feasts when a large family gathers.

On such a dish, you can lay out in a heap not only delicious Uzbek pilaf, but also portioned broken cakes (cakes in Central Asia are usually broken, not cut).

Some species can be completely flat, completely without sides or with low sides of 1–1.5 cm, located at different angles. The material from which real lagans are made is burnt clay, ceramics. Local craftsmen cover the surface of this dish with special glaze several times and decorate it with oriental patterns, which can carry a special meaning if intended as a gift for an event, for example, a wedding.

Lyagan in the East serves as a symbol of hospitality and friendly feasts, because for one person, most likely, it is not required. This dish is intended for communication of dear guests while taking delicious food. Eastern people have a special attitude towards dishes - the richer it is, the more branded the pattern, the more expensive the guest is for the hosts. And of course, hand-made lyagan is valued much higher than tableware made in a factory.

Varieties of lagans differ in size and painting. The most popular medium sizes are from 30 cm. The smallest lagan is intended for sweets, dried fruits and sweets. A dish up to 42 cm in diameter is the optimal size for an oriental dastarkhan.

On sale there are often lagans 55–56 cm in diameter, but if an even larger diameter is required, then such a lagan is asked to be made by a master to order. Large lagans are sometimes used as a lid for a large cauldron. Lyagans can perfectly decorate the walls of housing and be used for their intended purpose at the same time. To do this, on the reverse side of the master, two communicating holes are created.

As for the painting, it is very diverse - it is from it that the place of manufacture of the lagan is recognized. Often, patterns are used to decorate not only the front, but also the back surface of the dishes. They choose the patterns on the dishes wisely, considering every detail that carries a special meaning. Traditionally, you can find sets of dishes decorated with white cotton flowers on a dark blue or black glaze background - this pattern is called "buttermilk" (buttermilk means "cotton").

It is no secret that cotton in Central Asia is an important agricultural crop, symbolizing hard work and prosperity. In addition to buttermilk, the following paintings can be observed on eastern lyagans:

• closed circles with various additional ornaments - a symbol of the cyclicality and continuity of all living things;
• geometric shapes - triangles, circles, arches, semi-arches;
• floral ornaments of various colors, pomegranate flowers, almond fruits;
• images of fish and birds - symbols of freedom, peace, purity and wealth;
• knives - protect from the evil eye and evil;
• simple but sacred things - sun and sky, seeds and water, plow and harrow.

Masters who have received the knowledge of many centuries can encrypt the whole life of a person with painting on lagan - his birth, marriage, the birth of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and, of course, death.

On the territory of modern Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, there are many provinces known for their porcelain products. Among them are the ancient Samarkand and Bukhara, the Uzbek capital Tashkent, the cities of the Fergana Valley Khujand and Kanibadam, Shakhrisabz and Andijan, Gijduvan and Khorezm... Ceramic masters from Rishtan. This area is deservedly called "the main pottery workshop of all Central Asia."

The nature itself granted the Rishtan land to become such a center of ceramics: the rich deposits of local red clay do not require preliminary processing and the addition of impurities. There is also no shortage of natural dyes - quartz, manganese, special plants. There were times when the entire male population of Rishtan was engaged in pottery, and the experience accumulated by the local craftsmen is unique.

Few know that the famous Russian blue-and-white Gzhel painting actually takes its roots from Rishtan ceramics. Yes, our Russian craftsmen adopted these mesmerizing blue and white patterns in their own way, replacing oriental motifs with Russian flowers.But not only such a sky-blue scale can be Rishtan painting - here yellow, red, green colors are added to the patterns, and sometimes monochrome products are also found.

Porcelain from Khorezm is famous for its horizontal pattern along the edge of the lagan and the same white and blue color scheme that comes to us from the Eastern Middle Ages. Khorezm dishes are thin to the touch, have sides located almost at right angles. Lyagans from Bukhara and Gijduvan can even hypnotize with their painting.

Gijduvan products, despite their thick walls, are light in weight and porous. This feature leaves products for a long time in their original temperature - cold or hot.

Handmade lyagans are valued much higher than industrially manufactured dishes. To purchase a high-quality handmade lyagan, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

• a high-quality surface of kitchen utensils should be smooth, without bubbles; subsequently, a chip may form in place of the bubble;
• turning the lagan on the bottom surface, you can find circular irregularities formed from the potter's wheel; on a manufactured product, the back surface at the bottom will be smooth;
• at the bottom of the lagan and other dishes, the master who created them usually puts the author's signature, especially if such a craftsman has already achieved fame and recognition;
• factory products will have perfectly straight edges, if they are put together, they fit perfectly; and two hand-made products cannot be the same - their edges are unlikely to fit into each other, and the pattern cannot be exactly repeated twice;
• the dishes should emit a light, pleasant ringing when you lightly click on it; this ringing resembles the ringing of metal, not clay, the higher and thinner its sound, the better the object is.

Important! If you crack a lagan or other hand-made utensils, small voids can be found in the ceramics. They were formed by firing clay, in which there were various straws or bird feathers. These voids are proof manual production and created specially for the lightness of the dishes, as well as to reduce the thermal conductivity of the thermos type.

In order for the lyagan to serve for a long time, it is not necessary to keep it only as a wall decoration, because its true purpose is to gather good guests around it. Then the lyagan will give off the warmth of the hands of the master who made it. The frequency of careful use of the lagan does not affect its durability in any way. Glazed ceramics are not whimsical to care for, but hand-made dishes also require manual handling.

Then dry with a paper towel and remove before the next arrival of guests on the wall or in the closet.

A lagan made by a craftsman, like the rest of ceramic dishes, may eventually show one peculiarity. Products are covered with glaze, which is also produced from natural materials and dyes. Over time, the glaze can become cracked, which is considered the norm for Uzbek hand-made products. This lagan with wrinkles is very much appreciated in traditional families and is passed down from generation to generation.

About what lyagans are, see below.