FAQ

What people ask us most, with short answers. If your question is not here, write to paramparapeetal@gmail.com.

Pital, kansa, tamba

Is kansa safe to eat in every day?

Kansa is the everyday eating metal in many Indian homes, and our kansa thali sets and katoris are made for daily meals. Serve curd, lemon and other sour food fresh and empty the katori after the meal, because sour food left standing for hours marks the metal. Wash by hand and dry at once. We have no test report on our kansa, so we make no safety or health claims about it.

Tamba jug mein pani kitne ghante rakhein? How long can water stay in copper?

By custom, families fill a copper jug or bottle at night and drink the water through the next day. Do not leave water standing for days, and empty and rinse the vessel before each refill instead of topping it up. Keep copper for plain water at room temperature; lemon water, juice and milk stay out of it. We make no health claims about water kept in copper.

Asli pital kaise pehchanein? How do I know it is real brass and not plated?

Every piece we sell is brass, kansa or copper all the way through, not plated, and where a handle or a base is another material the product page says so. You can check at home too. A magnet does not stick to brass, kansa or copper, while a plated piece shows grey or silver metal where the surface is scratched. Bare brass also darkens within weeks of use, and lemon and salt bring the same yellow back, because the colour is the metal itself.

Pital, kansa or tamba: which metal is for what?

By tradition, brass (pital) is for cooking and the mandir, kansa (bronze, also called bell metal) is for eating, and copper (tamba) is for drinking water. We group the Rasoi pages the same way. Treat it as a guide: a brass thali serves a meal well, and a brass lota holds water for the puja.

Can I cook in brass?

Yes, in a brass pot with a kalai (tin) lining inside, and every brass kadhai, handi, patila and saucepan we sell is tin lined. Tomato, tamarind, curd and other sour food should cook on the tin, never on bare brass. Use unlined brass for dry food and for serving. When yellow brass starts to show through the grey tin, a local kalaiwala relines the pot.

Will it work on induction?

No. Brass, kansa and copper are not magnetic, so they will not heat on an induction plate without a steel base. Use our kitchen pieces on a gas stove.

Cleaning and care

Pital ka diya kaise saaf karein? How do I clean a black brass diya?

Soak the diya in hot soapy water to lift the oil and soot, then polish it with Pitambari or a paste of lemon and salt, rinse, and dry it at once. An antique finish diya needs a soft dry cloth only, because lemon and polish strip the dark finish out of the recesses.

Why is my brass or copper turning dark or green?

Air and moisture darken bare metal, which is normal and not a defect. Green spots mean water sat on the surface too long. Rub the piece with tamarind pulp, or lemon and salt, then rinse and dry it with a cloth. Hand painted pieces are the exception: use a dry cloth only, since lemon and polish lift the colour.

Can it go in the dishwasher?

No. Wash brass, kansa and copper by hand with mild dishwashing liquid and a soft sponge, and dry at once. Keep steel wool and bleach away from the metal, and keep it out of the microwave too.

Orders, delivery and returns

Is COD available?

No, we do not offer cash on delivery. You pay at checkout by UPI or card. The payment goes straight to the payment provider, so your card and UPI numbers never reach us.

Is shipping free? Is GST included?

Yes to both. Shipping is free on every order across India with no minimum, and every price on the site includes GST.

Delivery mein kitne din lagenge? How long will my order take?

Count 4 to 8 working days in Assam and the North East, and 9 to 13 working days in the rest of India. That is 1 to 3 working days for us to check and pack the order in Guwahati, then 3 to 5 or 8 to 10 working days with the courier. Festival weeks and bad weather in the North East can stretch this. You get a tracking number by email when the courier picks up the parcel.

What is your return policy?

We take a piece back only if it arrives damaged, if it is the wrong item, or if something is missing. Tell us within 48 hours of delivery with your order number and photographs of the piece and the box, and we replace it or refund you in full, whichever you choose. We arrange the pickup and you pay nothing for it. We are a small shop and do not take returns for change of mind. Record a video as you open the parcel; the refund policy explains why it helps.

When will I get my refund?

Usually five to seven working days after we approve it, depending on your bank. The money goes back to the method you paid with.

Can I cancel my order?

Yes, until we pack it. Write to paramparapeetal@gmail.com with your order number and we refund you in full. Once the parcel has left us, we cannot call it back.

Do you ship outside India?

No. We ship only within India for now.

Will the piece look exactly like the photograph?

Close, but not exactly. Each piece is shaped and finished by hand, so small differences in size, finish and surface marks are normal, and colour on a screen can differ from the metal in daylight.

Gifting

What gift for griha pravesh?

A Laxmi Ganesh murti for the new mandir, an urli for the doorway, a pair of brass elephants, or a pair of diyas for the first evening in the new home. By custom, many families also boil milk in a new brass patila on the first day until it spills over. Griha pravesh gifts

What to gift at a shaadi?

In many communities a kansa thali set goes with the bride, because the couple will eat from it every day. A Laxmi Ganesh or Radha Krishna murti for the couple's mandir and a pair of brass diyas are the other common choices. Wedding gifts

Do you take bulk or corporate orders?

Yes. Write to paramparapeetal@gmail.com with the quantity, the budget per piece and the date you need them by, and we reply within two working days. For ten or more of one piece, write before you order so we can check stock, because handmade stock in quantity takes longer than stock off a shelf.