An Essay on a Local Festival: Yomari Punhi

Nepal is home to diverse cultures, which are expressed through music, dance, art, craft, language, festivals, celebrations, food, and drinks. Yomari Punhi is a Newari festival marking the end of the rice harvest, observed every year during the full moon of December by making and eating Newari food called Yomari, made out of rice flour and filled with brown cane sugar and sesame seeds. In this essay, we are going to talk about the brief history of Yomari Punhi, major activities, religious or social importance, duration, and drawbacks.

The Newari community is known for its unique culture, which includes food, language, sculpture, metal craftsmanship, and many more. The Newari community has many unique foods to offer. Yomari Punhi is one of the festivals. It is observed by Newari people every year during the full moon of December. On this day, a special dish is prepared called Yomari. It is a dessert-like dish made out of rice flour dough shaped like a fish and filled with brown cane sugar and sesame seeds. The rice flour should be newly harvested because that's the main point of celebrating the festival itself. This festival is only celebrated in the Newari community.

On this day, Kathmandu Valley residents worship the goddess Annapurna, the goddess of crops and food. She is also prayed to for a good harvest of rice. Talking about the history of Yomari Punhi, it is said to have started in Panchal Nagar, known as Panauti in the present day. As per the tales, a couple, Suchandra and Krita, experimented with the fresh yield of rice from their field, which evolved into Yomari.

This festival falls in winter, so the dish (Yomari) helps to keep our body warm. It is also considered a dessert and is even used to make garlands while celebrating even-numbered birthdays of Newari children below 12. This festival is one way of socializing, as people, especially kids, go around the neighborhood to ask for Yomari. A special dance is also performed in the valley.

As much as this festival sounds fun and merry, it has some drawbacks like every other festival. There are many cases of kids getting kidnapped during this festival as kids roam around asking for Yomari. Another drawback is that Newari people drink a lot of alcohol during this festival, which is dangerous to their health.

In conclusion, Yomari Punhi is a unique festival of the Newari community, observed every year during the fall of December by making and eating a dish called Yomari made out of newly harvested rice flour and filled with chaku (concentrated sugarcane juice). It is celebrated with joy and merrymaking.

By Prarthana Shrestha 

Grade 10

Modern School 

Bhaktapur 

Sati Pratha : A Horrible Tradition

In Nepal, as a Hindu country, there are and were lots of traditions and cultures. Some of them were good while some were bad. ‘Sati Pratha’ was one of the bad traditions. It was not only a tradition but a total dreadful nightmare for Nepalese or Hindu women. So, you might be wondering why it is called a nightmare. Let me tell you about this horrifying tradition called ‘Sati Pratha.’

Basically, ‘Sati Pratha’ is the ancient Hindu practice of burning a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre, or burning her alive in his grave. This practice is associated with Hindu tradition. During this Pratha, some women chose to become Sati of their own will while most women were forced. If they didn’t agree to go Sati, their in-laws and relatives would force them or even physically or mentally abuse or torture them.

Now, you might be curious, why did this horrific tradition even start in the first place, right? It is believed that Sati Pratha was seen in Nepal first and it spread to other countries like India. In Nepal, Sati Pratha started during the rule of the Licchavi Dynasty. Some people also believe that this tradition was started by the Hindu goddess Sati (who became Parvati upon rebirth), and this tradition was named after her. She burned herself in a fire in response to the disrespect shown to her husband (Lord Shiva). Her act of devotion was celebrated and, over time, became the practice of Sati more commonly known today. Another common belief is that Nepal is a male-dominated country, and some so-called high-class males created this Pratha to dominate females.

As it is said, sooner or later, everything comes to an end. This horrifying, dreadful, and traumatizing tradition also came to an end. There were many people who were against this tradition, but there were also a few people who wanted to continue this tradition, but they lost for good. There were many movements against Sati Pratha. Sati Pratha was stopped by William Bentinck (Governor-General of India) globally at first in 1829 A.D. Later, Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher abolished Sati Pratha in Nepal on Ashad 25, 1977 B.S.

Sati Pratha was indeed a terrifying culture that lasted for centuries but ended for good. Many people were against it while others supported it despite its awfulness. It was a very good decision by Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher and others who helped to stop this tradition because it was against the rights of women and human values. What do you think?

Thank you.

Nistha Bakhunchhe

Grade 10

Manoram Boarding Secondary School 

Bhaktapur 

Speech:Importance of Exercise for Healthy Life

Good morning everyone, respected principal, vice principal, teachers, and my dear fellow classmates and juniors. It is an honor to be here with you all today, delivering my short and sweet speech on this stage. Let me thank Ms. Aashish Manandhar, our English teacher for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to express my views on the topic called ‘Importance of Exercise for a Healthy Life.’

Let me start with the meaning or definition of exercise. So, what is exercise? Exercise is an energetic physical or mental effort, usually done for health or betterment, for example, running, jogging, cardio-exercises, push-ups, etc. Exercise plays a colossal role in our lives. Exercise helps one to stay healthy and fit.

Exercise has numerous benefits for both our physical and mental health. Exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight and strengthens our bones and muscles. It also reduces the risks of chronic diseases such as heart disease, Type-2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Exercise also improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and prevents cardiovascular diseases. Exercise also helps to live longer.

Beyond its physical advantages, exercise also plays a crucial role in mental health. Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins, known as the “feel-good” hormones, which help alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Regular exercise has been linked to improved mood, better sleep quality, and higher levels of self-esteem. It also enhances cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills. By incorporating exercise into daily routines, individuals can experience a significant reduction in mental health issues, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Despite all these benefits, some people don’t even bother to exercise properly. Especially today’s youth, they need exercise more than ever. This is because of the junk food they consume every day, which can hamper their quality of life. Many obvious health challenges affect older people and make it difficult and even dangerous in some cases for them to live independently. These critical medical conditions include arthritis, vision loss, impaired hearing, osteoporosis, etc., and to prevent all these diseases they must exercise properly. Moreover, in today’s fast-paced world, it can be easy to neglect our physical health, but taking care of our bodies is crucial for overall well-being and happiness.

Let me tell you a short story. There is a boy named Sushil in my community. He doesn’t exercise and consumes a lot of junk food and hates healthy food. He sits on the sofa and watches TV all day with a packet of chips and a soda in his hands. Now, tell me, is he healthy? No, right? He can also suffer from different types of diseases and obesity. The main thing is if he continues being a couch potato, he also can’t have a healthy life. So, we can say that exercise is very essential for a healthy life.

In conclusion, engaging in regular physical activity may produce improvements in an individual’s physical health, cognitive performance, and psychological well-being. In order to live a healthy life, it is essential to exercise for mental and physical development. Thus, exercise is important for the overall growth of a person. It is essential to maintain a balance between work, rest, and activities. In the same way, we can say that exercising means servicing our body just like people go to service centers to get their vehicles serviced to keep them fit. It is said that good health is not something we can buy, however, it can be extremely valuable. So make sure to exercise daily.

Thank you.

By Nistha Bakhunchhe

Grade 10

Manoram Boarding Secondary School 

Bhaktapur