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
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