When we were very young (1960s) my mother had a batu giling (stone grinder). I did not like having to grind chilli or onions. When my sisters started working and I had to do it, I would end up crying (the onions) and the chilli made my hands hot. Thank God we did not have to scrape coconut because I saw the machine they use and it scared me.
There is a belief too that the small stone must always be with the big stone. The small stone is the anak (child) and the big stone is the parent. After use, we would have to wash the stone. If we separated it while drying, my mother would scold us and tell us to put them together or there could be trouble in the family between the children and parents or worse, separation of parent and child.
We never believed in it but did as we were told to make my mother happy. In the 1970s we bought her a blender. Although she seldom ever used the batu giling, she kept it for decades afterwards.
I still have a mortar and pestle and I find it to be an essential utensil in the kitchen. I still have mine and it is 40 years old. I don't like too many electronic things in my kitchen except the food processor, blender and electric cake mixer.
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