Beyond temples and palaces, the Kathmandu Valley’s cultural life unfolds quietly in kitchens, courtyards and neighbourhood rituals. Among the Newar community, food-centred observances mark seasonal change, ritual preparation and social harmony. Sunthi Nakha, Sithi Nakha and Chwela Bu Nakha are three such traditions that offer travellers a deeper, more intimate understanding of Newa culture: where food is both nourishment and meaning.
Sithi Nakha – Water, Cleanliness and Community Responsibility
Celebrated on the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Jestha (May-June), Sithi Nakha marks the onset of the monsoon and is dedicated to Sithi Dyo (Kumar Kartikeya). It is one of the most socially significant Newar observances, rooted in environmental stewardship.
Traditionally, communities come together to clean wells, stone spouts (hiti), ponds and water sources, clearing debris before the rains arrive. This practice represents a centuries-old system of water management that remains relevant in today’s urban Kathmandu.
Food plays an important role after the communal work. Newar households prepare generous meals featuring woh (bara), chwela and seasonal dishes, shared among family and neighbours. For visitors, Sithi Nakha offers a powerful example of how ritual, sustainability and hospitality coexist in Newa culture.
Sunthi Nakha – Ritual Food and Wellbeing During Tihar
Sunthi Nakha is observed during Tihar, Nepal’s festival of lights, particularly around the Yama Panchak period. Central to this observance is sunthi, or dried ginger, an ingredient valued in Newar culture for its warming, digestive and protective qualities.
On this day, households prepare sunthi khaya, a simple yet potent preparation made with dried ginger powder, ghee and mild sweetness. The taste is sharp, gently spicy and deeply warming: believed to strengthen the body during seasonal transition. Sunthi Nakha reflects how Newar food traditions align with health, ritual purity and family care, especially during Bhai Tika.
For travellers, Sunthi Nakha highlights Nepal’s lesser-known culinary wisdom, where everyday ingredients become carriers of ritual and wellbeing.
Chwela Bu Nakha – A Culinary Prelude to Jatra
Chwela Bu Nakha is a food observance traditionally celebrated one day before a Jatra, serving as a domestic and culinary preparation for upcoming public festivities. The word “Bu” means “to eat for the first time”, signifying the first ritual consumption of chwela ahead of the jatra cycle.
On this day, families gather to prepare chwela, a bold Newari meat dish seasoned with mustard oil, garlic and spices, usually served with bhuja (beaten rice) and woh. The flavours are smoky, spicy and robust; marking readiness for the ritual energy of the days to follow.
Though quiet and household-based, Chwela Bu Nakha reinforces family bonds and culinary continuity. For food-focused travellers, it reveals how Newar celebrations begin not on the streets, but at the dining mat.
Sunthi Nakha, Sithi Nakha and Chwela Bu Nakha reflect a living form of Newar heritage where food, health, seasonal awareness and community responsibility are seamlessly intertwined. For travellers exploring Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, these traditions offer cultural depth beyond monuments, revealing how everyday rituals sustain Nepal’s identity. Together, they present an authentic, understated glimpse into communal life, making them meaningful experiences for those seeking a deeper connection with Nepal’s living heritage.
PC: Wikimedia Commons, Flickr, Pixels
Also Read
