Yomari Punhi is a Newari festival celebrating the rice harvest which takes place in Nepali month of Mangsir/Poush (December). It takes place during the full moon day of Mangsir (Nepali month) or Thinlā (थिंला), the second month in the lunar Nepal Sambat calendar.
And “Yomari Punhi” means full moon of Yomari and is one of the most popular festivals among Newar communities all over the country.
How is Yomari Punhi Celebrated?
Yomari Punhi festival is celebrated by worshipping the goddess of grain, Annapurna, and offering the sweet delicacy Yomari, thanking her for the good harvest. Thus this festival is also called Dhanya Purnima (where Dhanya means Thankful in Nepali language).
On this day, families gather and make Yomari. They also visit the houses of neighbors asking for Yomari, singing the Yomari song in the evening.
Also, the sacred masked dances are performed in the villages of Hari Siddhi and Thecho at the southern end of the Valley to mark the festival.
What is Yomari?
Yomari is a confection (sweet) made of rice flour dough in the shape of fish and filled with either Chaaku (molasses, caramelized brown cane sugar) and sesame seeds or Khuwa (condensed milk), which is then steamed. Along with the regular fish shaped Yomari, people like to make Yomari on the shapes of gods and goddesses like LAxmi, Ganesh, Kubera and Saraswati and place it in a Bhakaari (traditional large grain basket) as an offering to the gods, and thanking them for a good harvest.
This delicacy is a must have item during the celebration of Yomari Punhi and especially made with recently harvested rice flour.
Also Yomari can be found in typical Newari restaurants all around the year.
And the word Yomari is believed to be derived from two Newari words “Yau” and “Mari” which means “loved or liked” and “bread” respectively. Thus, the word “Yomari” means “The bread loved by all”.
Shape of Yomari
There are multiple theories regarding the shape of Yomari.
Some refer to the shape of Yomari as the earth and the two tails as North and South Pole.
Some refer to it as fish.
People also refer to Yomari as a fruit, Tahsi (Bimiro, bigger lemon like fruit) which is worshipped as deity in Newari culture, and is a must have fruit during Mha Puja. And Tahsi fruit represents longevity, wealth, prosperity, and fertility.
Some people also regard Yomari as a symbolic combination of sex. People typically make Bayo and Mayo Yomari. Bayo Yomari symbolizes the male whereas Mayo with a fish-like tail is considered female and represents Father and mother.
According to some, the triangular shape of the Yomari symbolizes one-half of the shadkona, the symbol of Saraswati and wisdom.
Song dedicated to Yomari Punhi, Yomari Phonegu (Fonegu)
Similar to Swanti (Deusi/Bhailo), childrens sing a special song while asking for Yomari at neighbors house in the evening under a full moon light.
And the song goes like this:
Tya chin Tya: wakachin tya;
(Blessings to both rich and poor)
Latapata Kulincha Jucha tya:
Blessings for both dull and clever)
Yomari chwamu; uki dune haku;
(Yomari is sharp and filled with black sweet)
Byu sa maaku, mabyu sa fakku:
(If you give it, it’s delicious, If you don’t, it’s not)
Byusa lyasse;
(If you give Yomari, you are beautiful)
Mabyusaa Buri Kuti:
(If you don’t, you are ugly)
त्यछिं त्य वकछीं त्य लातापाता कुलेचाँ जुछिंत्य ।
योमरी च्वामु उकी दुने हाकु ब्युसा माकु मब्युसा ।।
फाकु ब्युसाल्यासे मब्युस बुढी कुटी ।
Yomari Punhi History
Yomari Punhi festival is said to have started in Panchal Nagar, present day Panauti village. According to the tales, a married couple Suchandra and Krita experimented with a fresh rice harvest from their field and created a new delicacy. Then they distributed among the villagers which everyone loved and got the name “Yomari” (Bread loved by everyone).
The tale further states that on the same day, the couple also offered the dish to the god of wealth, Kubera, who was just passing by in disguise as a beggar. And the god Kubera was impressed by the generosity of the couple, then disclosed his real identity and blessed them with wealth.
And he also declared that whoever prepares Yomari with the shapes of gods and goddesses on the full moon day of Marga Sukla Purnima will be blessed with wealth and prosperity.
Some historians believe that the Yomari could have been adopted from the Tibetan cuisine as they also have similar dishes. And the Newari community was always in trade with tibetan, it validates the statement in a way.
Others believe it could be adopted from the Indian dish Modaka which is prepared the same way. Modaka is prepared as an offering for Lord Ganesha in Ganesh Chaturthi.
When is the Yomari Punhi Festival in 2081 B.S. or 2024 A.D.?
The Yomari Punhi Festival is on 30th Mangsir,2081 B.S. or 15th Dec, 2024.
Importance of Yomari Punhi Festival
Yomari Punhi has a great importance in the Newari community as it marks the start of winter and celebration of rice harvest. During the harvest season, farmers work hard and Yomari is prepared as a treat to themselves after the harvesting is done. It also brings families together and is also celebrated as an appreciation for the hard work done by the farmers to produce rice in the field.
And Yomari is not only sweet but has nutritional value which is why it’s given to pregnant women in the Newari community.
Also in the winter season, the temperature of the body drops. Since Yomari Punhi falls in the winter season, the weather is perfect to savor Yomari which is believed to have the quality to keep the body warm.
Similarly, Yomari is considered auspicious in the Newari culture. And it is a mandatory food item when a child in a Newar family turns 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 years of age. Well, not to eat though.
On their birthday, they wear a Yomari garland sewed by their mother. The garland will have the same number of Yomari corresponding to the age of the child.
On the same day, another ethnic festival is celebrated, called Udhauli Parva.
[…] On this same day, Newari community celebrates special festival, Yomari Punhi. […]