Winnowing TraysArticle | Updated 1 decade ago Winnowing Tray Detail Image copyright WA Museum Developed my many different cultures around the world, winnowing trays are essentially designed for use in Winnowing, an agricultural method used to separate grains from other plant material such as chaff. In practice, this involves taking the harvested grain in the tray and lightly throwing it in the air. Lighter plant material blows away in the wind while the heavier grains fall through holes in the tray, down to the ground. Since the agricultural cycle of many cultures is associated with religious or otherwise special symbolism, winnowing trays are often heavily linked with cultural practices and ritual. As a result, many cultures around the world see such objects as symbols of fertility and femininity. In Nepal, where June collected these baskets, winnowing trays are sometimes used in shamanic rituals and in Hindu marriage ceremonies. Like open top baskets, winnowing trays are used extensively to present to food items at the home and market place. Winnowing Tray in use Taken by Pim Horvers; http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimhorvers/8221923413/sizes/l/ Further Reading Hitchcock, J. T. (1967). A Nepalese Shamanism and the Classic Inner Asian Tradition. History of Religions. 7 (2): p 149-158. Slewyn, T. (1979). Images of Reproduction: An Analysis of a Hindu Marriage Ceremony. Man, New Series. 14 (4): p 684-698.