As the moon comes out tonight, Newari community finishes Yomari Purnima celebration. In this special day during the full moon between November and January, gods are worshipped with Yomari and thanked for a good harvest. This is the photo story by our photographer Min Ratna Bajracharya in Kathmandu.
This story begins early morning of full moon's day. A group of women from the valley get together and work on 48 kg of rice flour, 8kg of molasses and 2kg of sesame to create a big Yomari. Another group prepares ‘normal’ size Yomari for sale.
This sweet Newari desert is a rice flour dumpling, stuffed with molasses and sesame.
It's steamed and served hot. Today, they offer 2 pieces of dumplings plus a portion of mixed potatoes and pickles, in a bowl, for Rs75.
Once the big Yomari is ready the rally starts in the city centre.
There is dancing and music and singing. There is even a parade.
Our photographer says in today’s rally participated around thousand people. They all wanted to follow the big Yomari.
Once the rally is finished they wait until the full moon appears in the horizon and share the big Yomari with the whole community.