Newar or Newah are the indigenous people living in Kathmandu valley in Nepal. The language of Newars is Newari. They have multiple ethnicities, race (Mongolian, Aryan, Austro-Dravidian) and faith within the community united by same language.
The Newari language is called Nepal Bhasa and it has its own script. Nepal Bhasa, is of Tibeto-Burman origin. Newars are very rich in culture and traditions. Newari foods are very delicious and famous all over the world.
Food is a very important part of the ritual and religious life of the Newars. The food items served to the guests during festivals and feasts have own symbolic significance. Different sets of ritual dishes are placed in a circle around the staple rice flakes to represent and honor different sets of deities depending on the festival or life-cycle ceremony.
Newari Khaja, also known as ‘Newari Bhoye’ and ‘Samai Baji’ is an ethnic food of the Newar community. Earlier, Newari khaja was just limited to Newari people, which they would consume during special occasions but the time has changed. The fanbase of this dish is massive all around Nepal now.
We can classify Newari meals into three main categories: Daily meals (ja), Snack (baji), and Festival meals (Bhoye).
1) Daily meals (ja): The meal consists of rice (ja), dal (ke) and vegetable (tarkari). The same meal is eaten morning and evening. If one can afford, meat (la) item is seen on the side of Newar’s regular meal.
2) Snack (baji): Newars prefer to eat snacks in the afternoon. It generally consists of flattened rice (baji), eaten with such items as roasted and curried soya beans (musya), fermented mustard leaves (gundro), or curried potato (alu tarakari). They also have some meat (la) and home- made liquor (thon) with it. Baji is called chiura in Nepali.
3) Festival meals (Bhoye): Another main category of food is served at feasts. In this meal also beaten rice (baji) is the main dish. At feasts various preparations based on buffalo meat are served along with curries of vegetables and pulses. Home-made liquor (thon) is served along with the food. Generally, feast meal is concluded by serving curd, sugar and fruit (sisapusa). Pieces of betel nuts and cloves are also served at end of the meal.
Kwati (soup of different beans), Kachila (spiced minced meat), Choila which is water buffalo meat marinated in spices and grilled over the flames of dried wheat stalks, wo (lentil cake), paun kwa (sour soup), stuffed lung, fried liver, fried tongue, tripe stuffed with bone marrow and jellied fish soup are some of the popular festival foods. Dessert consists of dhau (yogurt), sisabusa (fruits) and mari (sweetmeat). Thwon and aila are the common alcoholic liquors that Newars make at home.
Festivals and Gatherings: At meals, festivals and gatherings, Newars sit on long mats in rows. Typically, the sitting arrangement is hierarchical with the eldest sitting at the top and the youngest at the end.
Spices: Newar cuisine makes use of mustard oil and of the most commonly used spices such as cumin, sesame seeds, turmeric, garlic, ginger, mint, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, chili, and mustard seeds.
Source: Weall Nepali
Freelance Writer
