Yomari, also called yamari, (

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 delicacy of the

Newar 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 civilisat ...

community in

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 a steamed

dumpling Dumpling is a broad class of dishes that consist of pieces of dough (made from a variety of starch sources), oftentimes wrapped around a filling. The dough can be based on bread, flour, buckwheat or potatoes, and may be filled with meat, ...

that consists of an external covering of

rice flour Rice flour (also rice powder) is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye. Rice flour is a common substitute for wheat flour. It is also used as a thickening ...

with sweet fillings such as chaku and khuwa. The delicacy plays a very important role in Newa society, and is a key part of the festival of Yomari Punhi. According to some, the triangular shape of the Yamari is a symbolical representation of one half of the Shadkona, the symbol of

Saraswati Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati. The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a g ...

and wisdom.

Etymology

The name "yamari" comes from two

words, "''Ya:''"() meaning "to like" and "''Mari''"() meaning "delicacy/bread". So, ''yamari'' literally means a popular (liked) delicacy.

History

The Yomari Punhi festival is said to have started in Panchal Nagar (present-day

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 ...

). Myth has it that Suchandra and Krita, a married couple, first experimented with a fresh yield of rice from their field. And what took shape came to be known as yamari. The new delicacy was eventually distributed among the villagers. As the food was liked by all, the bread was named yamari, which literally means 'tasty bread'. The myth further states that on the same day the couple offered the god of wealth,

Kubera Kubera ( sa, कुबेर, translit=Kuberā) also known as Kuvera, Kuber and Kuberan, is the god of wealth, and the god-king of the semi-divine yakshas in Hinduism. He is regarded as the regent of the north (''Dikpala''), and a protecto ...

, who was passing by in a disguise, the new delicacy. Following this,

disclosed his real identity and blessed the couple with wealth. He also declared that whoever will prepare yamari in the form of gods and goddesses on the full moon of December and observe four days of devotion to god, will get rid of poverty.

Festival

The festival of Yomari Punhi is celebrated on the second day of the full moon when prayers are offered during which the yomaris are stored and not eaten on that very day. On the fourth and the final day the people belonging to the Newa community consume the sweet bread as a gift from gods and this practice also marks the end of the festival.Nepal Travel Guide
/ref>

References

External links

Yomari recipe
Dumplings Newari cuisine Nepalese desserts {{Nepal-cuisine-stub

Etymology

History

Festival

See also

References

External links