Bambusbehälter für Paan-Blätter

The basis for the paan is a combination of a chopped piece of betel nut, a leaf of betel pepper vine and some slaked lime. Depending on taste, a few crumbs of tobacco, some cardamom, a clove or two, etc. are added. The effect of paan is slightly stimulating, it stimulates salivation and is said to be good for digestion. Many Naga still chew paan as a stimulant today; however, the significance of paan beyond this, which it still has among the non-Christian or more relaxed Christian neighbors of the Naga, is forgotten among them today. Paan plays an important role in rituals on the occasion of weddings and other occasions in the area from the Khasi mountains of north-east India to Vietnam.