Each year at the end of the rice harvest and the rise of the December full moon, Yomari Punhi arrives in communities around Kathmandu Valley. Lucky travelers staying at community homestays in Panauti and Patan may be able to experience the unique traditions of this popular Newari festival — and its treats, homemade yomari.
The Newari people prepare Yomari, also known as “tasty bread,” as a steamed delicacy made of rice flour dough filled with molasses and sesame seeds. They craft the dough using freshly harvested and ground rice, shaping it into long pointy pockets before stuffing it with the sticky filling.
Suchandra and Krita, a married couple residing in Panauti, the oldest city in Nepal, established the Yomiuri-making tradition as they experimented with their newly harvested rice, creating the first Yomiuri in the process. They shared them with their fellow villagers, who all enjoyed the delicacy. A stranger passed by that same day, and the couple offered him a yomari. The stranger accepted the gift and revealed himself as a Kuber, the God of wealth. He then blessed the couple with riches as a reward for their kindness.
In celebration, present-day Newari families, mainly farmers and traders, observe the festival with four days of worship and feasting on Yomiuri. The delicacies are not only enjoyed but also offered to the goddess of food and nourishment, Annapurna, to bring prosperity throughout the year. Children go around the neighbourhood performing songs and dances, asking the women of the houses for their treats.
The homestay experience is a perfect way for travellers to get an insider’s look at this festival, as many local women in Panauti and Patan will use recipes handed down for generations to make their Yomiuri. Travellers may be invited into the kitchen to prepare sweet dumplings, or they can book a true cooking class to make Yomiuri and other traditional Nepali foods. These are flavorful memories that last well beyond the trip.
The 2019 Yomari Punhi falls on Dec. 12, just as Nepal’s peak tourist season winds down and the winter season arrives. It’s a perfect time to experience Nepal like a local and go trekking at the lower elevations or explore the Newari city of Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
