Interesting indeed... I say it has side dishes as required thus the fitted bowl is not needed....except we don't know how long the thing is ...perhaps a few more feet?....Indian villagers aren't that big so a total length of 5 feet would work... The width is about a metre.... wide enough for most people I would suggest....The item has added legs and two support strutts underneath. (I once saw one of these with a painting on it of a famous cleric.) It is certainly something from a village household and the massage tray or board is the closest I can get...but as a table top in its second life it is perfect. Tea anyone?