Yamari is a delicacy of Newar

Newar

The Newa , Newār or Newāl) are the indigenous people and the creators of the historical civilization of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. The valley and surrounding territory have been known from ancient times as Nepal Mandala, its limits ever changing through history.Newas have lived in the Kathmandu...

s. It consists of an external covering of rice-flour and an inner content of sweet substances such as Chaku

Chaku

Chaku is a popular condiment of the Newar community. It is used in the preparation of various Newari condiments like the yomari. It is also a popular ingredient in 'ghya-chaku', a popular assemblage of ghee and chaku eaten during the Makar Sankranti festival in Nepal.In English it is known as...

. The delicacy plays a very important role in Newar society. According to some, the triangular shape of the yamari is symbolical representation of one half of shadkona, the symbol of Saraswati

Saraswati

In Hinduism Saraswati , is the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. She is the consort of Brahma, also revered as His Shakti....

and wisdom.

Etymology

The name Yamari comes from two Nepal Bhasa words, "ya:" meaning "to like" and "mari" meaning "delicacy". So, literally, it is a delicacy which is very popular

History

The festival is said to have started from panchal nagar(present day Panauti). Myth has it that Suchandra and Krita, a married couple, first experimented with fresh yield of rice from their field. And what took shape turned out came to be known as Yamari. The new delicacy was eventually distributed among the villagers. As the food was liked by all, the bread was named Yamari, which literally means 'tasty bread'. The myth further states that on the same day the couple offered the god of wealth, Kuber, the new delicacy, who was passing by in a disguise. Following this Kuber disclosed , his real identity and blessed the couple with wealth. He also declared that whoever will prepare Yamari in the form of gods and goddesses on the full moon of December and observe four days of devotion to god, will get rid of poverty. The festival is celebrated on the second day when prayers are offered during which the Yamaris are stored and not eaten on that very day. On the fourth and the final day the people belonging to the Newar community consume the sweet bread as a gift from gods and this practise also marks the end of the festival.