Celebrated by the people of the Newar community, Yomari Purnima is a festival that brings people together through food and feasts. Observed during the full moon day of December/January, Yomari Purnima holds a very special place for the people belonging to the farming occupation among the Newar community.

Yomari written as ‘योमरी, योह-मरी’ in Nepali is a sweet delicacy made of rice flour with chaku (jaggery taffy) and sesame seed fillings. This festival is also known as 'Yomari Punhi' (in Newar language) that symbolizes the end of the rice harvest season. In the farming community of Newar culture, it is believed that during Yomari Purnima, Yomari should be made of the fresh rice flour derived from the paddy harvest of the current season.

Among the Newars, Yomari Purnima also embarks the beginning of the winter season. In fact, it is believed that eating Yomari helps one protect against the cold. Thus, eating Yomari also comes with its own health benefits.

Originally, in the traditional times, Yomari filling used to be made out of pulled jaggery taffy (Chaku), sesame seeds, and shredded coconut. While Yomari is still eaten with the traditional Chaku filling, nowadays other new fillings have also been introduced including meat, chocolates, etc. Yomari is not only considered a delight to eat among the people of the Newar community, but also among other residents of Kathmandu valley.

Many restaurants are now dedicated to making Yomari like the online food joint ‘Mitho Yomari’. You can order their delicious Yomaris right away!

It is important to know the origin and significance behind celebrating any culture. It can help us understand the true meaning behind our celebrations which makes the celebration even more special and meaningful.

How did the culture of eating Yomari during Yomari Purnima begin?

It is believed that in the old times, a married couple used to live in Panauti, a small village in the Kavre district. The couple had made various food items including Yomari at their house during the full moon day of the month Poush (Dec/Jan). That day, Lord Kuber, the god of wealth and prosperity, went to their house in the disguise of a beggar. Looking at the poor and pathetic situation of the beggar, the lady of the house decided to treat him with a good feast. She served him various food items including Yomari wholeheartedly. Observing the wonderful service and hospitality provided to him even when he was pretending to be a beggar, Lord Kuber was extremely pleased. He came out of his disguise and revealed his identity to the couple. They were surprised to see Lord Kuber in his avatar. God blessed the couple with an abundance of health and prosperity in life and also announced that people who worship paddy on the day of Yomari Purnima and make Yomari in the forms of various gods and goddesses will be blessed with wealth and prosperity too.

This story was promulgated among the Newars. From that day onwards, every year on the occasion of Yomari Purnima, Yomari is made in the forms of various gods and goddesses and are worshipped. Likewise, during Yomari Purnima a ritual is performed where the storage vessel of paddy, ‘Bhakari’, is worshipped with special significance. Yomaris are placed inside theBhakari as a medium to express gratitude for the harvest for the year. This ritual is especially performed among Jyapus, the Newar farmers while general people also make the celebration.

Some people believe that Yomari is a dish inspired by Tibetan food others presume that Yomari is similar to ‘Modaka’ made by the Indians, specifically from the Maharastra State during Ganesh Chaturthi, the birthday of Hindu God.

Retaining the culture of ‘Yomari Purnima’

Due to the rising popularity of Yomari among Newars and Non-Newars too, the festival now is widely celebrated by almost all Kathmandu residents. Married women are invited to their parents’ houses for the celebration and also the blessings of good health and prosperity.

However, there are some aspects of the culture which are slowly starting to extinct which need to be preserved before it’s too late. For instance, in the earlier times, there was a special song dedicated to Yomari Purnima itself. Young children used to sing the song and go around their neighborhood houses asking for Yomari. Similar to Halloween culture in the West where children go door to door asking for candies, except for Newar children ask for yomari.

The funny/cute song that children used to sing for the house owners asking for the yomari is:

yoh mari chwamu, ukke dunne hakku, byuma lyassi, mabyuma buricha.

"त्यछिं त्य वकछीं त्य लातापाता कुलेचाँ जुछिंत्य, योमरी च्वामु उकी दुने हाकु ब्युसा माकु मब्युसा, फाकु ब्युसाल्यासे मब्युस बुढी कुटी" 

“The bread is pointed, the filling is sweet, if you provide us Yomari, you are a beautiful woman if not you are an ugly person!”.

However, with time, this culture is fading away and It is important for us to take serious measures to retain these cultural nuances for the future generation.

Interesting Tales and Facts about Yomari

Yomari molded-in god and other shapes are made for offerings. by Monika Malla

Yomari Shapes

While Yomaris can be given different shapes according to one’s preferences, the most common Yomari shape is that of a fishtail.  The ‘fishtail’ shape of the Yomari signifies different things, in some communities, it is believed that the Yomari represents the earth, and the fishtail represents the two poles – the North and South. The internal filling of the Yomari represents, volcano and rocks present underneath the earth.

Yomari Represenation

Some believe that Yomari represents a fish while others believe Yomari's shape is made to resemble a 'Bimiro’, the Lemon Citron (Citrus Medica L.) which is an essential item in several Newar festivals.Bimiro is believed to represent longevity, fertility, prosperity, and wealth.

For some Yomari represents a Shatkona, a six-pointed star, which represents Saraswati, The Hindu Goddess of Wisdom.

Yomari Significance

Apart from the Yomari Purnima, Yomari is of special significance during many Newar ceremonies, especially on birthdays. Children wear Yomari garlands on their birthdays, and the number of Yomaris on garland increases every year with the added year to their age until and the custom continues until 12 ie before they reach teenage.

Similarly, Yomari is also fed to pregnant women for the good health of the mother and the child.

Matina Paaru

The day next to Yomari Purnima is called ‘Matina Paaru’ which represents love and romance in the Newar culture. This is a day specially dedicated to meeting your lovers, similar to Valentine’s day.

There is a tradition of making two types of Yomaris, "Bayo" and "Mayo" Yomari on Yomari Purnima for Matina Paaru. The Bayo is made of pulled jaggery taffy and sesame seeds and represents male genitalia and Mayo is made of black lentils that represent femalegenitalia. Thus, Yomari also represents sex metaphorically in the Newar culture.

So on Matina Paaru, couples meet and bring each other Yomaris from their respective homes. Again a custom practiced during old times when there were no mobile phones and social media and had to wait for this day to express their love.

Yomari Purnima, all in all, is a beautiful ritual that makes all Nepali divulge in the sweet taste of Yomari. This unique food item was the delicacy that helped represent Nepal and our Nepalese Chef Santosh Shah in Master Chef UK 2020 as well. Hats off to our beautiful culture and its yummy food!

We, humans, are social beings and as social beings, we have this innate need to connect with each other, and what better way than food to come together, connect and celebrate.

Featured Photo by Raunak Maskay

Enjoy this Yomari Making video with our food partner, Foodoliciously Yours