Yomari Punhi (योमरी पुन्ही) is the Newar celebration of the full moon after the rice harvest, also known as Dhanya Purnima (धान्य पूर्णिमा). Families make yomari, steamed rice-flour dumplings filled with chaku and sesame. In 2083 BS it falls on Poush 8 (24 December 2026), listed as a public holiday.
Find Yomari Punhi and the full moons of every month in the Nepali calendar, or see all 2083 holidays.
What is Yomari Punhi?
Punhi means full moon in Nepal Bhasa, the language of the Newar community, and Yomari Punhi is the full moon on which yomari are made. It falls on the full moon of the lunar month known in the Nepal Sambat calendar as Thinlā, which usually comes in late November or December.
The festival marks the end of the rice harvest. Families give thanks for the new grain, and many worship Annapurna, the goddess of grain and food, as well as Kuber, associated with wealth. For many Hindu households the same full moon is observed as Dhanya Purnima, "the grain full moon", with the same spirit of gratitude for the harvest.
When is Yomari Punhi in 2083?
KhataIN's published 2083 holiday data lists a single entry for this full moon:
| Event | BS date | AD date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhanya Purnima / Udhauli Parva / Yomari Punhi / Jyapu Diwas | Poush 9, 2083 | Thursday, 24 December 2026 | Public holiday |
The same day is also observed as Udhauli Parva by the Kirat community and as Jyapu Diwas, a day celebrating the Jyapu farming community of the Kathmandu Valley. Christmas Day follows on Poush 10 (25 December 2026).
What is a yomari?
A yomari (योमरी) is a dumpling made from the flour of newly harvested rice. The dough is shaped by hand into a hollow, usually with a pointed, tapering end, filled and then steamed. The most common fillings are:
- Chaku (चाकु): molasses boiled down into a thick, toffee-like paste, often mixed with roasted sesame seeds;
- Khuwa: a sweet milk solid, used by many families as a second variety.
Yomari are best eaten warm. Families also shape some into the forms of deities, such as Ganesh, Laxmi or Kuber, and animals, which are kept aside for worship rather than eaten straight away.
The meaning of the name is told in more than one way. A common explanation reads yo as "liked" or "loved" and mari as "bread", so yomari is "the bread that is loved". Another reads it from the word for fig, after the dumpling's shape. Both explanations are widely repeated.
How is Yomari Punhi celebrated?
Customs vary between towns and families in the Kathmandu Valley and Newar settlements elsewhere, but several are widely known:
- Making yomari together: Family members shape and steam yomari at home, and the first ones are offered in worship.
- Worship of the grain store: Many households place yomari and figures in the store where grain is kept, as an offering for a full store in the year ahead. In many homes these are kept for a few days before being eaten as prasad.
- Children's songs: In some neighbourhoods, children go from house to house singing traditional songs and receive yomari in return.
- Temple visits: People visit temples, and some places hold special worship to Annapurna on this day.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yomari Punhi a public holiday?
KhataIN's published 2083 holiday data lists Dhanya Purnima, Udhauli Parva, Yomari Punhi and Jyapu Diwas on Poush 9, 2083 (24 December 2026) as a public holiday. Holiday decisions are made each year, so check the holiday list for the current status.
What is the difference between Yomari Punhi and Dhanya Purnima?
They are the same full moon. Yomari Punhi is the name used by the Newar community, centred on making yomari, while Dhanya Purnima is the wider name for the harvest full moon, when thanks are given for the new grain.
What is inside a yomari?
The most common filling is chaku, a thick molasses paste often mixed with sesame seeds. Many families also make yomari filled with khuwa, a sweet milk solid.
Why does Yomari Punhi fall on a different date every year?
It follows the full moon of the lunar month Thinlā, so its English and Bikram Sambat dates move each year. Check the Nepali calendar for the year you need.