Fragrant drops of rosewater

The season of Damask roses on Jabal al Akhdhar closes by mid May. The Green Mountain turns pink during April and May and one can imagine how wonderful it would be to inhale the fragrance rich air!of course now we can wait for the traditionally distilled rose water to reach the markets or take the winding road up the mountain and enjoy the cool day while fetching the rose water bottles. In every culture there is a special place for rose water and its usage goes way back in time.

My first memory of rose water was while attending a wedding ceremony in India as a child when I was sprinkled with rose water and sandalwood paste at the entrance.

Love playing with water but this one smelled nice too. It makes you smile naturally. And the rose water sprinkler stayed on my mind forever.

Covering an event at Oman National Museum gave an opportunity to linger around and admire some of the exquisite collections and guess what was on display? Delicately sitting under the small spotlight that enhanced the carved designs was a silver rosewater sprinkler (mirasshah) from northern Oman from 14th c Ah/20th c CE. The square showcase underneath contained a beautiful white colour rosewater sprinkler with small magenta flowers at the base. The description said, “Iran - (painted glass) and Sur, South Al Sharqiyah Governorate (silver decoration) 13th - 14th c Ah/19th - 20th c CE. This was under the category of crosscultural connections - Rosewater.

While talking about the rosewater, my friend said in Syria too it was an old tradition to sprinkle rosewater and was done so for good luck. Remember going through an exhibition of consumer products a few years ago in the Sultanate of Oman, my friend from Iran and I were walking and an exhibitor wanted us to sample his rosewater and was disappointed when I could not hold the water in my palm. I had dropped most of it (I had thought he was just going to sprinkle it).

He was from Iran - a land known for its rosewater- and he had special pride when it came to his collection of rosewater. He demonstrated as he said, “See, how your friend held the water.” I cupped my palm too and there was this beautifully smelling water in my palm - “Now you can splash it on your face,” he said.

Who cares for make-up when there is rosewater?

Splash it and the impact is amazing! One looks at the world differently.

Maybe today we do not keep rosewater sprinklers, but the distilled rosewater sprays for face continue to charm.

Traditions also meant washing eyes with rosewater while tackling summer heat. Yes, rosewater was also used for its medicinal properties and is known for its benefits for the skin.

But most importantly of course rosewater is an important ingredient in many cuisines especially desserts and one will definitely sense it when enjoying Baklava and not to forget gulab jamoon. Who can forget the sweet taste of rosemilk? The Middle East and Asia have celebrated the roses. The rosewater was also used in medieval Europe as well.

Growing up a little bit more I realised the rosewater sprinkler is a household item and was very much at home too and is used for special occasions. Soon it became a fun thing to do sprinkling rosewater on people, no matter how serious people were, they smiled when the drops fell on them.

Of course the fragrant water was not only cooling but refreshing.

It is about time we brought back rosewater into our lives and the rosewater sprinklers ushering in fragrant raindrops not just for sweet memories

but for a bright future!

Lakshmi Kothaneth

The writer is a senior journalist and a radio anchor

MY FIRST MEMORY OF ROSE WATER WAS WHILE ATTENDING A WEDDING CEREMONY IN INDIA AS A CHILD WHEN I WAS SPRINKLED WITH ROSE WATER AND SANDALWOOD PASTE AT THE ENTRANCE