Yomari Punhi

योमरी पुन्ही

View on map
Nature & SeasonKathmandu Valley
Dates24 December 2026Confirmed listing
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forSeasonal rites, water traditionsYomari Punhi is one of the most widely
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: NPR
CategoryNature & SeasonFestival type
The story

Yomari Punhi in Kathmandu Valley

Yomari Punhi is a Newar harvest festival held on the December full moon, marking the end of the rice harvest with the preparation and sharing of yomari, a fish-shaped steamed rice-flour confection filled with molasses and sesame or a milk-based sweet. Families offer worship to Annapurna, the goddess of grain, in thanks for the season's crop.

Yomari Punhi falls on the December full moon, at the point in the Kathmandu Valley's agricultural calendar when the year's rice harvest is finally complete and the new grain has been milled into flour.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Yomari Punhi is one of the most widely observed Newar community festivals, distinguished by a single, specific food, the yomari itself, whose shape and preparation carry symbolic weight beyond simple celebration

02

The mystery stays covered

Groups of children traditionally go door to door in the evening asking neighborhood households for yomari, a custom called Yomari Fonegu that has, over generations, doubled as a socially sanctioned occasion for young people to meet outside more restrictive courtship norms

03

The city starts moving

Masked dances are performed in the villages of Harisiddhi and Thecho at the valley's southern edge, adding a performative, public dimension to what is otherwise a home and neighborhood-centered festival built around food, gratitude and the closing of the agricultural year

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Worship of Annapurna

Water and renewal

Living ritual

goddess of grain and nourishment

The sacred route

Living ritual

forms the devotional core of Yomari Punhi

The local code

Living ritual

thanking her for the year's rice harvest at the point the crop is finally in and processed into new flour

Tradition 5

Living ritual

The two shapes of yomari traditionally made

Tradition 6

Living ritual

one associated with male and one with female symbolism

Tradition 7

Living ritual

are said to represent a mother and father figure

Tradition 8

Living ritual

reflecting the festival's broader themes of fertility

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

24 December 2026

Getting around

Plan the trip into Kathmandu Valley around the exact event area, then leave extra time for the return.

What to wear

Casual, comfortable clothing is appropriate for this home and neighborhood-centered festival; no specific ritual dress is required of visitors.

Safety

Keep distance from unsafe water edges and follow local crowd or weather warnings.

Where to stay

For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Kathmandu Valley.

Tickets/cost

Public water rituals are often open, but boat, viewing, or activity access may be paid.

Language/currency

NPR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map27.64 N, 85.36 EOpen in Google Maps

Kathmandu Valley, Bagmati Province, Nepal

Nearest airportKTM — Tribhuvan
TransportPlan the trip into Kathmandu Valley around the exact event area, then leave extra time for the return.
Stay areaFor peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Kathmandu Valley.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Kathmandu Valley via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Kathmandu Valley, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for December.Compare faresFestival gearCasual, comfortable clothing is appropriate for this home and neighborhood-centered festival; no specific ritual dress is required of visitors.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Nepal and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Yomari Punhi?

Yomari Punhi is listed for 24 December 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Yomari Punhi take place?

The festival is listed in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Dates confirmed in curated data. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Kathmandu Valley, Bagmati Province, Nepal

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed dates24 December 2026
Source statusDates confirmed in curated data
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