The Samovar: A Vessel of Tea and Memory

I first held a samovar when Helpline Humanity gave one to me as a service gift. At the time, I only thought about how heavy and shiny it looked. I liked the design but I did not really understand why it was such an important part of Kashmiri life. Over time, it has started to mean much more. Now it feels like a reminder of family, community, and the values of service it was meant to honor.

In Kashmir, the samovar is not decoration. It is part of daily life. Every home once used it to prepare nun chai or kahwa. The design is simple but clever. A pipe in the center holds hot coals, which heat the water around it. Tea leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, or saffron are added to the water. From the curved spout comes either golden kahwa or the pink froth of salt tea. Even the different parts of the samovar have names in Kashmiri, showing how deeply it is tied to language and tradition.

The samovar was always there during important moments. At weddings it marked celebration. At shrines it was shared as comfort. In winter families gathered around it for warmth and tea. The type of tea often matched the time of day. Salt tea in the morning gave energy, while kahwa in the afternoon was lighter and calming.

Today most families use electric kettles, but the samovar still appears during weddings and festivals. It continues to be part of Kashmiri homes, both as something practical and as something that carries memory. To own one is to feel connected to the past while still living in the present.

When I see the samovar in my house now, I think of the people who still make them by hand in Srinagar, and of the elders who once gathered around them to share tea and stories. I also think about why Helpline Humanity chose to give me this as a gift. It was not only to thank me, but to remind me of where I come from and the traditions that hold us together.

The samovar is more than an award. It is a piece of culture I can carry with me. Every time I look at it, I feel closer to my roots, and I remember that tradition stays alive when we choose to share it.