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Yomari Punhi and Udhauli are two winter festivals that arrive almost together, yet come from very different cultures. One celebrates warmth and food. The other honors nature and movement. Both hold a soft place in the hearts of Nepalis everywhere.

What is Yomari Punhi ?

Yomari Punhi is a Newar festival that marks the end of the rice harvest. It is also the day when families make Yomari, the soft steamed dumpling filled with chaku or khuwa. The name comes from ya meaning to receive and mari meaning delicacy. Many people call it the sweetest festival of the year because it brings everyone into the kitchen.

The story behind this festival goes back to the legend of Annapurna, the goddess of food. It is believed that offering Yomari brings good harvests, prosperity and a warm home. For children, it is a day of excitement. For elders, it is a reminder of gratitude after months of hard work in the fields.

Yomari Punhi is also a full moon day. Houses glow under the bright winter moon. Families sit together, laugh, cook and share memories. Even Nepalis living abroad often feel a wave of nostalgia on this day because Yomari carries the taste of home.

Why Yomari Punhi is Celebrated ?

The main purpose of this festival is to thank the earth for its food and to celebrate the completion of the rice harvest. It is also a prayer for wealth, health and stability for the coming winter. The shape of Yomari, with its pointed top, is believed to protect the household from negativity. Many people also prepare special Yomaris for the gods and offer them before eating.

What is Udhauli Parwa ?

Udhauli is celebrated by the Kirat communities such as Rai, Limbu, Sunuwar and Yakkha. It marks the natural migration from the hills down to the lower, warmer areas as winter begins. This movement is part of their ancestral lifestyle and is deeply connected to respect for nature.

The festival is filled with music and dance. The famous Sakela dance is the heart of Udhauli. Men and women gather in a circle, holding hands, moving in rhythm to drums and traditional instruments. The dance tells stories of farming, hunting and the bond between people and the earth.

Why Udhauli is Celebrated?

Udhauli is a thanksgiving festival. The Kirat communities thank nature for protecting them during the year. They pray for good health, safety and harmony with the environment. It is also a moment to remember ancestors and their wisdom. The festival reminds everyone that life moves with the seasons and that humans must live in balance with the natural world.

Do Yomari Punhi and Udhauli Fall on the Same Date?

Not always. Some years they appear close, and sometimes they fall on the same day. This is because both festivals follow the lunar calendar, not the regular solar date system. When the full moon of Magh arrives, both festivals can align accidentally. But they are different celebrations with different cultural roots.

Why These Festivals Feel Special?

Both Yomari Punhi and Udhauli arrive at the start of winter. Families gather, cook, dance and share food. People talk and reconnect. Many Nepalis living abroad call home or send a little support so families can celebrate comfortably. For parents and elders in Nepal, even small help arriving from abroad brings relief, especially during festivals when expenses naturally rise.

These celebrations remind people that culture is not just tradition. It is warmth. It is memory. It is connection. And no matter where life takes someone, there is always a way to stay close to home, whether through a phone call, a message or a simple gesture of sending money back to Nepal.