Yomari facts for kids
Yomari, also known as yamari, is a special sweet treat from the Newar community in Nepal. It's a steamed dumpling made from rice flour. Inside, it has yummy sweet fillings like a special kind of molasses called chaku. Yomari is super important in Newar culture. It's a big part of their festival called Yomari Punhi. Some people think the triangle shape of Yomari represents wisdom.
What Does Yomari Mean?
The name "yamari" comes from two words in the Newar language.
- "Ya:" means "to like."
- "Mari" means "a tasty bread" or "delicacy."
So, yamari literally means "a liked delicacy" or "tasty bread." It's a very popular treat!
The Story of Yomari
The Yomari Punhi festival is believed to have started a long time ago in a place called Panchal Nagar. Today, that place is known as Panauti.
- The story tells of a married couple named Suchandra and Krita.
- They were the first to try making this new food.
- They used fresh rice from their fields.
- What they created was Yomari!
- They shared this new, tasty food with everyone in their village.
- Because everyone loved it so much, they named it yamari, meaning "tasty bread."
The story also says that on the same day, the couple met the god of wealth, Kubera. He was disguised as a regular person.
- Suchandra and Krita offered him their new Yomari.
- Kubera then showed them his true identity.
- He blessed the couple with lots of wealth.
- He also said that anyone who makes Yomari shaped like gods and goddesses on the full moon in December, and prays for four days, will also become rich.
The Yomari Punhi Festival
The Yomari Punhi festival is a special time for the Newar community.
- It starts on the second day of the full moon.
- During this day, people offer prayers.
- They make many Yomaris and store them.
- They don't eat the Yomaris on this first day.
- On the fourth and final day of the festival, the Newar people finally eat the sweet Yomaris.
- They see eating the Yomaris as a gift from the gods.
- This practice also marks the end of the festival.
