Yomari Punhi, also known as Dhanya Purnima, is being celebrated by members of the indigenous Newar community across the country on Friday. The day which signifies the advent of winter and is observed on the full moon day of December every year also marks the post harvest period. A sweet delicacy named Yomari, made up of rice flour and brown cane sugar and sesame seeds fillings is the major food item savoured on this day. The Newar community is believed to have adjusted the festival fetched from January 15 to the full moon day of December some 400 years ago, according to Prof Dr Ramchandra Gautam, Chairperson of the Nepal Panchanga Niryanak Samiti, the Calendar Determination Committee. Today also sees the worshipping of family deity and of the cowshed among the people of this community residing mostly in the mountainous rim.
