Palov (plov or osh or palov, simply "pilaf") is Uzbekistan’s signature dish and is shared through rural and urban communities alike. In Uzbekistan, guests are only allowed to leave their host's house after palov has been served.
Palov is served at large gatherings of guests in the early morning and is usually made with rice, pieces of meat, grated carrots, and onions. Oshi Nahor, or Morning Plov, is typically served at a wedding at the beginning of the ceremony.
There are several occasions for this rite, including the birth of a first child (aqiqa), the circumcision ceremony (sunnat toyi), the engagement ceremony (fotiha oshi), the seeing off of a bride to the house of the groom (qiz oshi), and the wedding for men only (nikah oshi).
Moreover being served as a regular meal, it can also be a gesture of hospitality, a celebration of special occasions such as weddings or the New Year, a method of helping people in need that are underprivileged, or an honoring of loved ones who have passed away. On other occasions such as memorial days, folk promenades, hashars, or when people gather together, palov is prepared as well.
Over time, palov has become a kind of social phenomenon, which binds families together (for example, every family prepares palov at least once a week on Thursdays, or even 2-3 times a week), friends and colleagues often form a group and regularly prepare palov in tea-houses (chaikhana); in a similar vein, women gather and prepare palov), neighbors and relatives (in all family-related ceremonies and rituals palov is considered the main food).
This dish is prepared by men and women regardless of their age or social status during events that include other rituals such as prayer and traditional music. And it is not the actual feasting process that brings people together, but the process associated with the feasting that takes place later (when people communicate with each other).
Formally and informally, knowledge and skills are passed down from older to younger generations through the master-apprentice model or by demonstrating and participating in family groups, peer groups, community-based establishments, religious organizations, and vocational educational institutions.
By making and sharing this traditional dish, we are strengthening social ties, promoting values such as unity and solidarity, and contributing to the continuity of local traditions which are integral to the identity of the community.