POUSH

This is the month of YOMARI PUNHI, the authentic newari bread, which literally means the favourite bread, and PUNHI meaning the full moon. It falls on the Marga Sukla Purnima every year which is also the birthday of Guru Dattatyaya. Celebrated during the winter there is a greater belief that eating YOMARI takes the cold away and the tail of the YOMARI signifies the length of the coming cold winter. It is also believed that the celebration brings wealth, health and prosperity to the household.YOMARI is also prepared in the forms of gods and goddesses like KUMAR, LAXMI, GANESH and KUBER. The festival is said to have started from Panauti also previously known as Pancha nagar. A couple in the village came up with the idea to make the bread and then distributed it to the people in villages and they loved it thoroughly giving it its name as the favourite bread. God KUBER was also walking throughout the same village in a human form and offered the bread which he liked and blessed the couple with wealth.

It is also the worship of Goddess Annapurna and is celebrated for four days at the end of harvesting season, when farmers are resting and happy with their yields. Sacred mask dances are performed in the villages of HAri Siddhi and Thecho. A bg celebration is also carried out in the Dhaneshwor Mahadev Temple.On the second day the god idols made up of Yomari is placed in the rice silo (Bhakari) and worshipped. On the fourth day people eat the parsad and worship goddess LAXMI in the form of Dhanyalaxmi or Annapurna.

 Also this is the month of Losar for TAMU (Gurungs). This is the time when all the family members come together and have a feast and be merry. It is celebrated on poush 15 and also marks the end of winter and the start of spring. Traditionally celebrated in the house courtyard, it is now celebrated in a mass gathering where people enjoy food, cultural programs and family company. There also used to be a tradition of 3 day picnic (banbhoj) during the celebration of the Losar. Losar also marks the change in year of 12 animal cycles that determines the horoscopes of the people. The 12 animals are drawn in a circle in a single paper, it is also similar to the Tibetan calendar. 

MANGSHIR

On this month falls the Chhath Parva, mainly celebrated by the natives of Mithila region of Nepal and India. it is the celebration dedicated to the god SUN and is based on the thanksgiving the god for sustaining life and to worship him to provide continuous blessing to mankind. it is believed in hindu culture that the rays of sun has powerful radiations that help cure various diseases and illness. It is a four day long celebration and is also celebrated in Chaitra but it is not as popular as the Mangshir chhath pooja.  Below is the brief description of the four day celebration;

Day 1: (Naha Kha) the literal meaning is to bath and eat. People take a dip in holy rivers, bring holy water home, clean their houses and eat only one meal in a day.

Day 2: (Kharna/Lohanda) People end their fasting this day in the evening after sunset. Offerings of Kheer (Rice Pudding), fruits and foods are distributed among family and getting ready for a 36 hour fasting starting from the next day.

Day 3: (Chhath) This day the offerings are made in the evening and is called Sanjhiya Arghya. People prepare offerings during the day and whole family go to river banks to make offerings to the setting sun. In Kathmandu this is done in Rani Pokhari and in Janakpur this is done in Ganga Sagar. People come together during the evenings and perform many cultural activities together that reflects the vitality, culture, social structure metrology and history of Mithila.

            (Koshi) During the night, the lights are lit after the sunset and the argha to the sun. The lamp are kept in a canopy of five sugarcane sticks which symbolises the five elements that make the human body.The lamp then signifies the solar energy that sustains the human body. This is also a compulsory performance in families which have recent marriage and child birth.

Day 4: (Paran) This is the final day of the Chhath Parva. People make morning offerings to sun before sunrise known as Bihaniya Argha. All the family go to the river and pray to the rising son and end their fasting by having the prasad.

This is also the month when Bala Chaturdashi is celebrated. It is celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva by receiving mantras and lighting the lamps through out the night in the Pashupatinath temple. The next day people go to Bagmati River for a holy bath for purification. After the bath people visit all the god idols around the premises of the temple. While travelling around the temple devotees drop SAPTABIJ, the mixture of seven sacred seeds. The route passes through kailash forest and return back to the pashupati temple. At the end a special act is carried out, people shout, shake and talk loudly to the Ganesh idol near Bishwaroop temple as it is believed to be deaf.

It is believed that by celebrating this ritual we can secure better place in heaven for our dead relatives, it also helps to settle restless soul. Because this is performed in a mass by thousands of devotees it is believed to have true effect.

KARTIK

Well now we have reached the month of another big festival of our country, Tihar. It is the festival of light where we worship our beloved god and goddess, our lovely animals and also ourselves. There are many stories linked to the celebration of the festival and below are few of the reasons why it is celebrated the way it is.

First is the CROW(Kaag) TIHAR. It falls on the Kartik Triodashi and crows are worshipped as the messengers of Yamaraj (The god of death) and are also regarded as god. Another story associated with crow is that in Treta Yug, Lord Krishna had befriended crow and it is for celebrating their friendship together. On this day birthday of God Dhanuwanta also falls, who is also the founder of famous Ayurvedic Medicine around the world. 

Then comes YAMA DEEP DAAN. This has an interesting story associated behind it. The story is that there was a kingdom and the prince had recently got married. Lord Yamaraj had ordered his messengers to get the soul of the prince who had just been married for 4 days. The messengers got the soul and while coming back to Lord Yamaraaj they felt very guilty of putting the family in sorrow and were disgusted by their job. They discussed with the lord and then to minimise such incidents he had ordered people to buy new utensils and to do puja in them and to give them DAAN (charity) facing in south direction. It is believed that doing this will eliminate the risk of sudden and accidental death.

It is then KUKUR (dog) TIHAR. Dogs are worshipped as a form of Lord BHAIRAV, and this day is also celebrated to be thankful of the friendship we share with the best friend of humans "DOG". Another story that can be added in here is that when PANDAVS went to heaven their dog had also followed them. This in turn proves the dogs loyalty toward people, hence we worship dogs and feed them good food.

It is then turn of GOVARDHAN Pooja. The most popular story of this day is that in Dwapar Yug Lord Krishna had saved the whole village from heavy continuous rain by lifting a govardhan hill. This also comprises of worshipping our holy animal Cow. Cow provides many sources of income by giving milk and milk products and its dung is used to fertilise soil for harvesting, hence they are regarded as Goddess Laxmi the lord of wealth. Another interesting story which surrounds this is that when Pandavs had to go heaven, they used the tail of a cow to reach there, and this is why people still tie their holy strings of JANAI PURNIMA in the tail of cows in hope of being helped to heaven after death.

Finally, its the BHAI TIKA, where sisters do puja to their brothers for their good health, better future and their life. It is strongly believed that even Lord Yamaraaj will be powerless in front of the power of sisters praying for their brothers and will not be able to take their life. So wish you all a happy Tihar and may this festival bring prosperity to everyone. 

Ashwin

Yes!!!!!!!! This is the month of celebration in the Nepalese calender. The national festival of Nepalese "Dashin" falls in this month. Though it is celebrated by all Nepalese, the celebration differs according to various ethnic groups. For ages it has been continued to celebrate the win of Goddess durga over demon Trakasur.

But one of the stories also says that Dashin actually started during Chaitra Dnasty's king Suraj Dev abandoned from the kingdom had gone to civil life and met another man Samadhi who was from a wealthy family and was also abandoned from his family. They became the very best of friends and made a promise to themselves that they would rather spend their life with god than in the kingdom or in lavish houses. To selflessley surrender to god, they went to a holyman named 'megha". The holy man told them that the misfortune was due to the Mahamaya goddess (one of the form of goddess Durga)and if they are able to make goddess happy they will go to heaven. Therefore they started meditating for goddess Mahamaya but did not succeed due to their interest in their past extravagant and luxurious life. They again went to the holy man and asked for suggestion. Megha, the holy man suggested that it was in their blood that made them greedy and hungry for money and wealth and its only when you are able to get rid of this feeling that you will be able to make the goddess happy. They both went and gave goddess their blood which had the fault and made the goddess happy and they went to heaven. It is after this incident that the people are now celebrating dashin in hope of getting heaven when they die, (but now a days people give animal sacrifice rather than cleaning their blood of greed and hunger for money and wealth) I may be wrong.

The day starts with Kartik Pratipada and lasts until Kojagat purnima. the activities done according to days are as follows:

GHATASTHAPNA: The main person of house takes an early shower and brings soil from river bank which is a mixture of sand and mud and keeps it on clean area (usually cleaned from holy cow dunk) and 9 different seeds are mixed and kept for sprouting. Since its installation the area is believed to be blessed by GoddessLaxmi (goddess of wealth).
A flamed lamp is believed to be another form of Laxmi, and is lit everyday and the soil is watered for the growth of the sprouts.

PHULPATI : Phulpati falls on Saptami where people get the newly blossomed flower and collect from different houses for puja. It is also regarded as the shopping day for everyone for the festival.

MAHA ASTAMI : The next day after Phulpati is maha astami. Another form of Laxmi "Maha Shakti"is worshipped on this day. During the midnight of the day 5 animal and vegetables are sacrificed  for "Maha Maya Shakti".

MAHA NAWAMI: During this day many prominent holy places. temples and goddess Durga is worshipped.

DASHAMI : Win of good over evil, when goddess Durga killed Mahishasur (devil's king) is Dashami. This victory of good is celebrated until KOJAGAT PURNIMA (full moon), among friends and family by giving away the sprouts kept on day one and red coloured rice tika mixed with curd. It is kept in their forehead by the elders with their blessings for better future and wishes.


This is the celebration that is celebrated with family, friends and community by coming together no matter where they were through out the year and eating good food and being happy and merry. Flying kite and swings are also a huge attraction during this festival.

BHADRA भाद्र

This month holds many festivals as well. Starting from Krisnha Asthami (कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी), which is the birthday of Lord Krishna on this Earth. Success of truth over sin and agricultural motivation is the main message of the lord. On this day there is massive celebration in the Krishna Mandir of Patan, Mangalbazar. 

Bhimsen Jatra (भिमसेन जात्रा) is celebrated to mark the birthday of Lord Bhimsen (भिमसेन), the god of strength. On this day lord Bhimsen of Patan, Mangalbazar (back of Krishna Mandir described above) is taken out for Jatra.

We also have father's day on this month. It is known as Kushi Ausi (कुशी औसी). Mothers are considered as the image of love where as father is considered guru (teacher). All fathers are pampered this day by fruits, good food, gifts and sweets and there is massive fair celebrated in Gokarna, Kathmandu. Every person has responsibility towards their mother, teacher and nation and because every father teaches their child about their life since birth, hence fathers are pampered on this day as a thanks giving of their knowledge and support.

Another festival celebrated in this month is Hari Talika Teej (हरि तालिका  तीज) (picture 3). This is one of the important festival for Nepalese women. According to traditional belief it is considered that on this day goddess Parvati had fasted and performed puja to have lord Shiva as her husband. So, unmarried women fast on this day to wish for good husband and married women keep fasting for their husband's longer life and success. Women from different households come together and celebrate by wearing red, dancing and singing for lord Shiva in which men are not allowed. Women do not eat nor drink during this fasting, therefore daughters go to their homes and eat a feast along with their family getting ready for the fasting.

In Newari culture they celebrate CHATHA (चथा) which is celebrated by both male and females. People fry mixture of 9 grains consisting of rajma, maize, gram, wheat etc. in HAADI and eat. 

After Teej, another important occasion for women is RISHI PANCHAMI (ऋषि पंचमी) (picture 1) which falls on the next day or the day after Teej. It is mainly done to keep oneself clear of all the sins committed in the past 365 days. Women go to holy priests and chant for forgiveness of their sins. Washing and cleaning of whole body (each part) is performed 365 times, once for each day of the year. 

  

SHRAWAN श्रावन

This is the most busy month in our culture. It starts with SHRAWAN श्रावन sankranti which is the time when all the married daughters are invited to house for feast and upcoming festival Dashin. We celebrate Gathyanmugal, the first picture is of the celebration. It is celebrated to remember the death of "Ghantakarna" i.e. Gathyanmugal ghost who used to trouble people in ancient times. Another special occasion we celebrate is the Naag Panchami (the third picture above) where everyone puts the picture in their entrance door with the  help of holy cow dunk. Then comes 'Janai Purnima' where everyone wears the holy thread from priests for saving oneself from their sufferings and ill health. 

Gai Jatra (गाई जात्रा) festival started from Bhaktapur around 300 years ago. Bhaktapur's king Pratap Malla's son had died which left the queen mourning for days. This made the king very sad and to make her understand that there is not only her son that was dead in the community but other country men as well, hence the festival was encouraged to all the people in the kingdom. This also marks the freedom of people to express themselves to the king including their dissatisfaction prevailing in the community and the system. Cows are regarded holy and is considered to take souls to heaven which is why on this day cows are strolled on the street and people/households who don't have cow make mask and are worn by the children. It is now celebrated in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur.

  

AASADH अषाढ़

AASADH अषाढ़ is one of the important month in the Nepalese calendar. This is the month when we plant our important cash crop "Rice". The weather is suitable for the production and increases productivity and paddy is collected after 5 months in MANGSHIR (मंशिर). Halfway through the month we celebrate "Dhai Chyaura" दही चियुरा to have fun for all the hard work done so far. It also has a scientific meaning as yogurt  is beneficial  to body and provides protein for better health. 

JESTHA जेष्ठ

The important day of this month according to the Nepalese calendar is the BAISAKH बैसाख  purnima पूर्णिमा (full moon day of May 623 B.C) which falls on this month. This is the day when Prince Siddhartha was born who later with his enlightening knowledge is known as BUDDHA around the whole world. He left his kingdom and wealth in search of meaning for life, the reason behind sufferings and death. As a result he brought forward the principles of non-violence, peace and human solidarity.

On this same day there people in Banepa celebrate Chandeshwori (चंदेश्वोरी) Jatra. Chandeshwori (चंदेश्वोरी) has its own traditional meaning. In local language" SHI" means wood, "CHAU" means decaying, so when the wood was decaying a goddess structure was formed which is now called or known as Chandeshwori (चंदेश्वोरी). 

Sithi Nakha is celebrated in this month as well. Nature's gifts such as ponds, lake and man made water sources such as wells, taps and stone taps (Dhungedhara) etc. are yearly cleaned to increase their life and sustainability. It is essential to preserve these sites for its continuity and is also essential for the environment. Especially celebrated by Newari Cultures the cleaning is followed by Newari foods and celebration. It is estimated that there are 750 water sources in Kathmandu including stone taps, lakes, ponds and wells and cleaning these sources are essential not only from the Newar communities but from all Nepali as well. Among the 750 water sources the most popular's are Rani Pokhari, Naag Pokhari, Gahana Pokhari, Kamal Pokhari, Siddha Pokhari, Dwi Maju Pokhari, Pulchwok Pokhari, Chandi Pokhari etc. Among these Sapta Patal Pokhari of Pulchwok has ancient history to it. It is the pond where Patan's Machhindranath Raath is concluded to let Indra (god of heaven) know about the conclusion by throwing(as in letting it fly) sparrow towards the sky and introducing a fish in the pond for its lifecycle. 

NEPAL ko PAHILO नेपालको पहिलो

- First king of Nepal

- Yalambar.

- First preacher of peace 

-Siddhartha Gautam Buddha.

- First Nepalese to showcase Nepal's culture and skill in International ground

- Aruniko.

- First Nepalese to participate in global poets assembly (RUSSIA)

- Maha Kabi Laxmi Prasad Devkota.

- First Nepalese to step on mount Everest

- Tensing Norway Sherpa.

- First person to record song in Radio Nepal

- Kohili Devi

- First person to talk live to listeners using phone through Radio

- Pandav Sunuwar.

- First person to showcase world news through Nepal Television

- Durganath Sharma.

- First pop singer of Nepal

- OM Bikram Bistha.

- First martyr of Nepal

- Lakhan Thapa.

- First tourism business owner

- Basanta Shah.

-  First Prime minister of Nepal

- Bhimsen Thapa.

- First scientist of Nepal

- Gahendra Samsher Rana.

- First Nepalese Prime minister to participate in international political assembly

- Janga Bahadur Rana (1903)

- First woman minister

- Dwarika Devi Thakurani.

- FIrst Nepali woman to step on Mt. Everest

- Pasang Lamu Sherpa.

- First blind person to do PhD

- Dr Kumar Thapa (Nepali and Political science).

- Nepal's first President

- Dr Ram Baran Yadav

- Nepal's first teleserial

- Shree Panch Bada Maharaj Dhiraj Prithivi Narayan Shah (lead role played by Laya Shangraula).

- First Nepalese movie made in Nepal.

- AAMA (lead played by Shiva Shankar Shrestha and Bhuvan Chand).

- First colour movie of Nepal

- Kumari.

  

  

BAISAKH बैसाख New Year

As we mark the start of new year on January first according to the AD calendar but it is on this April 15 that we celebrate Nepalese new year according to our BS calendar. It signifies the start of new year of 12 months long year ahead. On this day there are around seven important Jatra performed by seven villages within the valley, including Madhyapur THIMI (sindur jatreसिन्दुर जात्रा), BODAE and SIDDHIPUR. Among these Jatra's "BODAE's" jastra has considerable impact among the people as it is on this day that a real and alive human being is pierced with one long needle that stops the person from closing his mouth. 

 Acchaya Tritya (अक्षय तृतीया) falls on this month as well. The basic meaning of the Acchaya Tritya (अक्षय तृतीया) means something that will never end and be endless. It is because there is a belief that Lord Shiva  (शिव) and Parvati (पर्वती) had married on this day and therefore anything that is done on this day will keep continuing forever. On this day, special occasions like marriage, naming ceremony etc. can be performed without any doubt and wheat flour and holy water (Sherbet) is consumed. There is also jatra performed in Lubhu (लुभू) of Shree Mahalaxmi  (श्री मालक्ष्मी) and Shree Mahabhairab ( श्री महाभैरबको) during this time.

AAMA (आमा) the word comprises of two words "AA" (आ) meaning AATMA (आत्मा) and MAA(माँ) meaning MAYA (माया). Therefore the person who listens the first heart beat of the soul and loves unconditionally as their offspring is called AAMA (आमा). On this day as per tradition,  people pamper their mothers by giving them sweets, fruits and fine food. For people without their mother, there is mela in Mata thirta kunda (lake) on this day. There is a saying that Lord Bishnu show their mothers reflection on the lake to make his devotees happy.

So wish you a very happy new year and keep celebrating our culture and traditions. JAI NEPAL!!!!!!      

Nepali Topi नेपाली टोपी Dhaka (ढाका) Bhatgaule (भातगाहुले)

Nepali Topi नेपाली टोपी can be categorised into two main categories, the top is the Dhaka (ढाका) where as the bottom one is the Bhatgaule (भातगाहुले)  topi. The most popular is the Dhaka (ढाका) topi and is the part of our national costume. The topi signifies head held high as the Everest, bold as the Himalayas, colourful as our national bird Danphe (डांफे) and hence is the pride of our country that incorporates much of its beauty. It is worn by all the people around the country. It is considered as luck to keep it in your head in all occasions and is usually only taken off when there is sorrow in the family.   

Dhido (ढिडोँ)

Dhido (ढिडोँ) defines the food that is made by boiling hot water and continuously mixing flours of maize and other grains like buckwheat. This is Nepal's traditional food and is still consumed world wide with great pride. It is also healthy compared to rice that is consumed daily in the Nepalese household. Nepal is an agricultural country and every household grows maize and buckwheat for food. It is with the flour of maize and other grains that Dhido (ढिडोँ) is made. Since these are dry so cooking them takes quiet a long time and continuous effort of constant stirring. 

Method of making Dhido (ढिडोँ) 

serves two people

1 litre water

250g maize flour/ buckwheat

20ml ghee

Method:

Boil the water in a deep container. Slowly keep the flour into the water and stir constantly with a cooking spoon. keep the ghee and keep stirring the mixture constantly for 5-7 minuets. If the colour of the mixture changes to brown we can make sure that the Dhido (ढिडोँ) is cooked.

GUTHI

GUTHI, is known in the society as an organisation of people working together and doing something collectively. This is however a wrong concept hanging in the market and needs to be rectified. The true meaning of GUTHI is anything that was built by our past generation which can not be recreated again and is in constant use in the society. Therefore it includes our ethnic dress, festivals, temples, important heritage sites, wells, musical instruments etc. So overall we can say everything in our culture can be classified as GUTHI. When translated from "Newari" it represents Gu= Nine and THI= Objects. It holds a special meaning as everything ranging from food, festivals etc are nine in this culture. For eg; the KWATI that we eat contains 9 grains, work in fields comes up-to 9 tasks and festivals in these time comes up to 9 as well. 

Conserving all these things is every citizens responsibility. It does not only relate to certain caste, class or section of the community. If any association establihsed to conserve such culture of our country it is known as GUTHI Association. It is still continued in the Newar community from generations. For example CITI NAKHA GUTHI is associated with the cleaning of wells which have been in constant use in our community. The whole community cleans their well and not only a group of people in a small section. This is how people come closer and then celebrate the preserving of the culture by having a feast at the end. It also promotes the emotion of brotherhood within the community and  motivates understanding among people.

It also prevails in the Magar community, which looks after the Manakama and its management. The Magar GUTHI collectively cleans the premises, manages the area and preserve the cultural heritage. Therefore GUTHI is an inevitable part of the human society coming together collectively for same aim of preserving their unique culture.

JAAND or CHYAANG (Rice Wine)

The above picture is of two distinct method of making alcohol in our Nepalese community. The two alcohol made this way is JAAND and RAKSI. The right side of the picture is the method of making JAAND and the left is of making RAKSI. Here we are discussing about how to make JAAND.

As we have already discussed the process of making RAKSI, JAAND is quiet simple to make compared to the former. For making JAAND we need PHOSI; the bottom container containing water for steam. Top of the PHOSI is POTASI containing rice soaked in water for few hours. It is then slow cooked with the help of the steam coming from underneath. This container is then covered to minimise the steam from escaping and maximising the cooking of the rice. After the rice is cooked it is then spread on cloth for slight cooling and mixture of MERCHA (i.e to ferment the warm rice). It is then covered for few hours to increase the fermentation and then transferred to another big vessel known as GHYAMPO. Mind you the rice at this stage is still dry. The GHYAMPO is then covered tightly to minimise the air entering. The content is then left for minimum 7 days after which desired content of water is mixed to get the rice wine (locally called JAAND) which is white in colour.

JAAND is an alcohol locally made in the community and is used in many parties, gatherings, special and religious occasions.

  

HUKKA CHILIM

 Everytime I hear the word HUKKA, the only thing that comes to my mind is the sound it produces.It is our very own traditional smoking mechanism and has been in use for generations for tobacco consumption. It consists of 3 main parts: HUKKA, CHILIM, and a PIPE.

 The top most part consists of  CHILIM which is a deep and circular container having a seperate inner section to place tobacco. The tobacco is then covered by coals on the top to slowly burn it. The middle part is the HUKKA which intern can be divided into 2 parts i.e a long slender body that helps the smoke to pass below and a water filled vessel at the bottom. As HUKKA does not have a proper filter, it is the water in the vessel that acts as one by attracting all the impurities to itself.The third part is the PIPE connected to HUKKA which is used to inhale the filtered smoke that comes out. 

But with increasing use of factory produced cigarettes, less accessibility and high risk to health; HUKKA consumption this has now-a-days only become a source of pleasure activity.

HADI and KAPTERO

HADI is our own popcorn maker and has been in use since centuries. It is an important earthen kitchen utensil which is not only used to make pop corn but also to steam vegetables such as potatoes and sweet potatoes. The amazing thing is that it does not require oil to make corn nor water to steam vegetables(though you need to cover them), hence making it a very essential tool in nepalese kitchen. (no wonder people were so slender back then!!!!). 

Whenever people remember popcorn I bet the instant figure coming in their mind will be the HADI. but how many of us remember the collection of bamboo sticks required to stir the corn for even cooking???? how many of us know what it is called?????. Well to make life easy let me tell you, it is called KAPTERO. As mentioned earlier it is made up of bamboo cut into uniform thin, slender and long pieces and bind together.  HADI is quiet dark at the bottom as it accumulates smoke from beneath the wood fire stove. Many years ago this smoke at the bottom of HADI was mixed with oil to make it a valid stamp presser for providing thumb prints in legal documents. But with the increasing use of automatic popcorn makers, hassle free stamp pads and using metal utensils have decreased the use of this traditional clay pot.

TONGBA

I

I have heard a lot about it, my friends have experienced it BUT I have never had a chance to have it yet."JAAD (rice wine)"and "Tongba" are our very own wines fermented in local homes and shops. the Tongba is an alcoholic drink made up of millet. The semi fermented millet seeds are served in a big bamboo jug known as" Dhungro" and hot water is poured in the jug for drinking. It is sipped from pipe which is called"Pipsing". No wonder I could not drink it last time I went back home as it was summer and this drink is enjoyed by people during winter. The process of adding hot water continues until the seeds loose their alcohol.

Tongba is traditional drink of the "'Limbu's" and holds a very pericular place in their culture and traditions. It is used to welcome guests, in weddings and in most of the festivals and ceremonies. 

NANGLO

Our diet is incomplete without traditionally cooked steamed rice and dal (curry). Today I will be telling you about the vessel that is used to separate dust, paddy, cover of beans, etc from rice, dal, beans, and other cereals. It is "Nanglo" a round vessel which is used in every Nepalese kitchen for this purpose.

The technique of using Nanglo to separate such dust particles is locally known as Niffanne, Kelaune, Batasne, Hamkaune. For ages, it has been a very handy tool in Nepalese kitchen. But, in today’s century, where shopping mall trend is increasing in Nepal, and competition is growing day by day, people from developed part of the country follow less of the so called ‘Nanglo Tradition’, since the quality of food is improving tremendously. However, they still use it for drying food in the sun.

Nanglo is a local handicraft and is made up of bamboo. In the first picture, you can see a lady who uses it to display her goods for sale. This is a common scene in streets of Nepal. It is the second picture, where you will be able to see Nanglo more clearly.