Jhapa celebrating 'Bhakka Day' to promote traditional cuisine

By Bishnu Prasad Pokharel,Damak, Jan. 13: People of the Koch Rajbanshi community living in Eastern Nepal have been celebrating the 29th day of Poush, a month in the Nepali calendar, as 'Bhakka Day' for the past seven years. The day falls on January 14 this year.

Three local levels of Jhapa district have announced a public holiday on the day. Bhadrapur Municipality, Kachankawal Rural Municipality and Haldibari Rural Municipaliy have given a holiday on Poush 29 as the local levels have a majority of the people from indigenous communities.

Bhakka is made by steaming rice flour in a small cake-like structure. It is often eaten during breakfast throughout the Tarai districts of the east. For many, Bhakka is a good breakfast with tea, especially during the winter.

Many women from different communities can be seen placing small Bhakka stalls at the main junctions and along the highways early morning. Those stalls remain crowded until the afternoon.

While Bhakka Day was celebrated only by the community people, stakeholders have now started celebrating it with grandeur. 

"Celebrating the day extravagantly will promote the food across many faraway places. We have started receiving more support and participation from other communities and local governments for the day," said Abhay Rajbanshi, chairman of Rajbanshi Community Development Committee.

According to Abhay, this year, the day is being celebrated by organising a programme at the Birtamod-based Domlal Rajbanshi Ground. 

More than 150 women from indigenous communities will be selling Bhakkas in the programme. The organisers have expected at least 35,000 celebrants at the event.