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Yomari

Yomari
Region or stateNepal, especially Kathmandu Valley
Main ingredientsFlour and stuffings mostly made of Chaku or concentrated milk.
  •   Media: Yomari

Yomari, also called Yamari, (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐫𑑀𑐩𑐵𑐬𑐷‎, also written as 𑐫𑑅𑐩𑐵𑐬𑐷‎, romanized. yomarī) is a delicacy of the Newar community in Nepal which is usually eaten in the winter.[1] It is a steamed dumpling that consists of an external covering of rice flour with sweet high caloric fillings such as chaku and khuwa which are traditionally believed to ward off the cold.[1][2] Yomari plays a very important role in Newar society and is a key part of its namesake festival,Yomari Punhi, celebrated in the winter.[3][4] It is also believed that the triangular shape of the Yamari is a symbolic representation of one half of the Shadkona, the symbol of Saraswati and wisdom.[5]

The structure of Yamari is similar to “Bagiya”, a dish traditional to the Maithil and Tharu community of southern Nepal.

Etymology

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Yomari showing at Lagankhel, Lalitpur

The current name of the dish in modern Newar seems to be derived from the Classic Newar term.[6] In historical documents from the Malla dynasty, particularly a stone inscription in Pashupati from 1440 the dish was referred as irhamadhe (Classical Newar: 𑐂𑐬𑑂𑐴𑐩𑐢𑐾‎; इर्हमधे); the name of the dish, towards the end of the 17th century, had evolved to elamādhe (Classical Newar: 𑐊𑐮𑐩𑐵𑐢𑐾‎; एलमाधे).[6] The name further evolved to its present form, yomari.

Festival

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The festival of Yomari Punhi begins on the second day of the full moon when prayers are offered during which the yomaris are stored and not eaten. On the fourth and the final day the people belonging to the Newa community eat the sweet bread, seen as a gift from the gods, at the conclusion of the festival.[7]

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  • Yomari Punhi offering.
    Yomari Punhi offering.
  • Yomari
    Yomari
  • The filling inside Yomari
    The filling inside Yomari
  • A close-up view of Yomari
    A close-up view of Yomari

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Bhattarai, Sewa (18 July 2019). "New, improved Yomari". Nepali Times. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019.
  2. ^ Goldstein, D.; Mintz, S.; Krondl, M.; Mason, L. (2015). The Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets. Oxford Companions. Oxford University Press. p. 634. ISBN 978-0-19-931339-6. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  3. ^ Roufs, T.G.; Roufs, K.S. (2014). Sweet Treats around the World: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 237. ISBN 978-1-61069-221-2. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  4. ^ Republica. "PHOTOS: Sweet Yomari". My Republica. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  5. ^ Basu Pasa (बासुपासा). Kantipur (कान्तिपुर) (in Nepali).
  6. ^ a b Malla, Kamal P.; et al. (2000). A Dictionary of Classical Newar. Jamal, Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Dictionary Committee. p. 23. ISBN 99933-316-0-0.
  7. ^ "Nepal Travel Guide". Archived from the original on 1 June 2002. Retrieved 1 June 2002.
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