''Dhau'' (

Nepal Bhasa Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nep ...

: ) is a variety of

yogurt Yogurt (; , from tr, yoğurt, also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yogurt are known as ''yogurt cultures''. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bac ...

primarily prepared by

Newar people Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisati ...

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...

. It is traditionally made in clay pots. The most famous and delicious variety of dhau is ''Juju dhau'', which is known for its rich taste and thick consistency. Juju dhau literally translates to "king of yogurt" in Nepal Bhasa. It is a specialty of the town of

Bhaktapur , motto = ne, पुर्खले सिर्जेको सम्पत्ती, हाम्रो कला र संस्कृति , lit=Creation of our ancestors, our heritage and culture , image_map ...

Use

''Dhau'' along with chopped fruits are the staple

dessert Dessert is a course that concludes a meal. The course consists of sweet foods, such as confections, and possibly a beverage such as dessert wine and liqueur. In some parts of the world, such as much of Greece and West Africa, and most parts o ...

at Newar feasts. At the end of the meal, a server walks down the line of guests ladling out two portions of yogurt from a clay pot. Dhau mixed with baji (beaten rice) is also a popular snack and ceremonial food.

Cultural significance

In addition to being an important ingredient in Newar cuisine, ''dhau'' has ritual significance. ''Dhau'' denotes purity, and it is a compulsory item during auspicious ceremonies, local festivals, marriage rituals, religious occasions and family gatherings. During the auspicious Sagan ceremony, it is offered to the family members who take a dab and put it on the temple. When someone goes away or returns from a long journey, clay pots containing dhau are put on water pitchers and placed on either side of the doorway for good fortune. During ritual bathing ceremonies of deities, ''dhau'' is one of the items poured over the image. An important ceremony associated with Jana Baha Dyah is known as ''Dhalin Luigu'', which means pouring yogurt. The deity is known in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural diffusion ...

as Aryavalokitesvara (Sacred

Avalokiteśvara In Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara (Sanskrit: अवलोकितेश्वर, IPA: ) is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He has 108 avatars, one notable avatar being Padmapāṇi (lotus bearer). He is variably depicted, ...

), and also White Machhendranath.

Juju Dhau

''Juju Dhau'' is a special variation of Dhau, made in Bhaktapur district. It is usually prepared for buffalo's milk, which is more fatty than traditional cow's milk. According to a tale, kings of the

Malla period The Malla dynasty ( ne, मल्ल वंश:) was the ruling dynasty of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal from 1201 to 1779. They were a Raghuvanshi dynasty who were seen as the descendants of the Licchavi dynasty. Later Malla kings also tra ...

of the valley once organized a yogurt competition. Yoghurt makers from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur participated in the competition. The king liked the curd of Bhaktapur and from that day the yogurt of Bhaktapur was known as ''Juju Dhau''. ''Juju Dhau'' is one of the food items that has become integral to the cuisine of Bhaktapur district. It is highly sought by domestic as well as foreign tourist. The ''Juju Dhau'' of Bhaktapur is also exported to nearby cities such as Kathmandu, Lalitpur,

Banepa Banepa ( ne, बनेपा) is a municipality and historical town in a valley situated at about above sea level in central Nepal which is at about east from Kathmandu. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, it has a population of 55,528. The ...

Panauti Panauti ( ne, पनौती) is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District in Bagmati Province of Nepal located 32 km Southeast of the capital Kathmandu. The town is currently listed as a UNESCO tentative site since 1996. Origin Panauti i ...

and Dhulikhel.

References

{{Yogurts Nepalese culture Newari cuisine Yogurts Nepalese desserts

Use

Cultural significance

Juju Dhau

See also

References