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Bel fruit, scientifically known as Aegle marmelos, offers a multitude of health benefits. Studies suggest that bel possesses antimicrobial properties, potentially aiding in the fight against certain bacteria and fungi. Its anti-inflammatory effects have also been noted, providing potential relief from bodily inflammation.

Moreover, bel is believed to harbor hepatoprotective properties, which could contribute to liver health, along with anti-diarrheal effects to alleviate digestive discomfort. Its anti-mutagenic properties may help prevent DNA damage.

When you delve into the study of bel, you can uncover many more claims about its health benefits. But did you know that bel patra once cooled down Lord Shiva? If it could cool down the God of Gods, then the pulp of the bel fruit can cool us down during summer. How? Let’s begin with the story of Mahadev or Shiva during the time of the churning of the ocean.

But first, let’s address the false story of bel bibaha—the misinformation about Newar girls marrying the bel fruit. The ceremony is called Ihi, and the girls are married to Suvarna Kumar, which symbolizes Lord Vishnu. It probably started to save Newar women from ‘Sati Pratha,’ where widows were forced to sacrifice themselves in the burning fire. During Ihi, bel fruit is given as a witness, as bel fruit (wood apple) has a peculiar quality of not rotting and remaining fresh forever.

Due to the release of poison during the churning of the ocean, the entire world became unable to bear its heat. Even the Sura and Asura (gods and demons) were troubled by the heat. Then everyone worshiped Lord Shiva and asked him for his help in getting rid of the heat created by the poison.

Lord Shiva drank the poison to free everyone from it. The heat of the poison was so intense that its effect did not diminish, and Mahadev’s throat turned blue. Then the Sura and Asura offered bel patra and water to Mahadev. Due to the effect of bel patra, the temperature of the poison started decreasing. Lord Shiva’s fever subsided after the offering of bel patra, and he became happy and blessed everyone, saying that from now on he would fulfill every wish of those who offer bel patra to him. Since then, the tradition of offering bel patra on Lord Shiva or one of his forms—the Shiva linga—has been ongoing.

According to another story, the leaves are dearest to Lord Shiva because the Purana mentions that once Goddess Parvati’s sweat droplets fell on the Mandrachal Mountain. It led to the growth of the bel plant. So, the Goddess is considered to reside in the bel tree in all her forms.

Bel is known as Bengal quince, stone apple, curd fruit, elephant apple, Adhararutha (Sanskrit), Iyalbudi (Tamil), Sriphalamu (Telugu), Billi (Gujarati), and Bel in Nepali, Hindi, and Bengali.

Bel possesses many medicinal values and is therefore used as an ingredient in Ayurvedic herbal medical preparations. The fruits, bark, leaves, seeds, and roots of bel contain bioactive compounds such as coumarin, xanthotoxol, imperatorin, aegeline, and marmeline.

Bel sharbat is traditionally made during summer. It’s said that if you drink bel sharbat in the morning, it will protect you from outside heat throughout the day. The plant is highly edible, and the fruit is eaten raw or made into marmalades, jams, jellies, and drinks.

In Indonesia, the fruit is opened and dressed with palm sugar for eating at breakfast. Young leaves and shoots are cooked as a vegetable in Thailand or used as a condiment in Indonesia. An infusion of the flowers is used to make a refreshing beverage. The fruit is also processed to make candied fruit and fruit toffees.

In Nepal and India, bel sharbat is quite popular during summer. There are many ways of making it. The seeded pulp is beaten also with milk and sugar to make sharbat. In the Indian state of Odisha, bel fruit pulp is mixed with fresh cheese, milk, water, sugar, crushed black pepper, and ice, and it becomes the great drink called bela pana.

During their New Year’s Day, Maha Bishuba Sankranti (on Baishakh 1 of the Nepali New Year’s day), Odia people prepare special bela pana with ripe bel, milk, black pepper, cheena (cheese curd), tiny pieces of peeled banana and honey or jaggery, yogurt, cardamom, ground cashews, and freshly grated coconut.

One popular method of making bel sharbat is to wash wood apples, cut them, and take out their pulp. Mix it with double the volume of water and mash it. Run this mashed pulp through a strainer and extract the juice by pressing it with the help of a spoon.

Add sugar to the juice. When it’s mixed in the juice properly, pour cold water or put some ice cubes in it. You can mix salt and cumin (jeera) powder as per your requirement. You can make four to five glasses of squash from one kg of wood apples.

Efforts to conserve the Bel tree are crucial as over-exploitation and habitat degradation have led to its classification as ‘near threatened’ on the IUCN Red List. To safeguard this vital aspect of culture and tradition, initiatives to plant and conserve bel trees are necessary.

 The author is a UK-based R&D chef

Nehru Joshi is the program coordinator at Genius IB World School. ApEx talked to her about Nepal’s education system, students and teaching-learning process and more. 

How can we create a more children-friendly learning environment in schools? 

The notion of education has significantly evolved beyond the traditional confines of textbook-centric learning. We're currently witnessing an exhilarating transformation phase within our education system, where learning extends far beyond the pages of textbooks and four walls of a classroom. Today’s education models are child-friendly and immersive, focusing on holistic development, hands-on experiences, and real-world application. We’re integrating technology into our classrooms, not just for the sake of using gadgets, but to make learning interactive, engaging, and relevant. We focus increasingly on experiential learning—taking learners outside the traditional settings to learn through experience.This approach encourages creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, ensuring learners are not merely carrying book bags, but are actively engaging with the knowledge and skills necessary for the 21st century. It’s an exciting time for education, as we ensure that every child feels supported, challenged, and inspired in our education system, not just academically but in all facets of their development.

What are the ways to make our education more practical oriented? 

Integrating hands-on learning experiences, applying real-world contexts, and fostering interdisciplinary learning within educational curriculums are crucial steps toward making education more applicable and engaging for learners. Such an approach not only cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills but also encourages learners to analyze and understand concepts deeply. By adopting inquiry-based learning, we can encourage learners to examine context from both local and global perspectives. This engagement helps become a lifelong learner and fosters an international-mindedness. This educational method facilitates engagement with complex issues beyond traditional subject boundaries, potentially improving academic outcomes.

 There are views that private sector education is too expensive and so they should be converted into public schools. What are your views on it? 

Private-sector education, while often associated with higher costs, plays a crucial role in the broader educational ecosystem. One of the core strengths of private schools is their ability to provide highly personalized education. This is due in part to smaller class sizes, which enable teachers to engage more deeply with each student, understanding their unique learning styles, challenges, and strengths. Moreover, private schools often have the flexibility to adopt innovative teaching methods and pedagogies. This agility allows them to adapt to the latest educational research and technological advancements, offering students a relevant and forward-thinking education that prepares them for the complexities of the modern world. In addition, the diverse extracurricular programs contribute to the holistic development of students. These programs, ranging from performing arts, mental and emotional wellness, visual arts, design and technology to sports and beyond, are essential for nurturing well-rounded individuals who excel not only in their academic pursuits but also in their personal growth.

In Nepal, where education is a pivotal element for development, the partnership between private and public schools can be particularly impactful. Private institutions can bring in their expertise in curriculum development, teacher training, and the integration of technology in education. This synergy can help uplift the overall quality of education, making it more accessible and inclusive. Such partnerships can serve as a bridge, ensuring that the advantages of private education are not confined to those who can afford it but are extended to a wider population, ultimately strengthening Nepal’s education system.

Do you agree that SEE should be canceled? 

My perspective is that while standardized assessments have their place in evaluating certain academic achievements, they shouldn’t be the sole measure of a child’s progress or potential. The real essence of education extends far beyond what can be captured in a standardized test. We’re preparing students not just academically but for life, which involves a myriad of skills and attributes that standardized tests simply cannot assess. Instead, we should prioritize ongoing assessment strategies that monitor a child’s holistic development, including language proficiency, interpersonal skills, creative thinking, critical thinking, emotional skills, and problem-solving abilities. This approach recognizes and nurtures the diverse strengths and challenges of each child, offering continuous feedback for timely support. It respects the fact that learning is a process, not a destination, and that each child progresses through this process at their own pace and in their own way. Unlike standardized tests that capture a mere snapshot, ongoing assessments provide a comprehensive view of a child’s capabilities, fostering well-rounded individuals ready to face complexities with confidence.

There are preparations to keep school education under the local government, is it justifiable?

In my opinion, decentralizing education to keep it under local government control can significantly contribute to country development and economic growth by tailoring education to local needs, cultures, and economic conditions. This approach allows for more agile implementation of educational programs, closer quality assurance, and more effective monitoring of outcomes. By involving local communities in decision-making, it not only enhances democracy in education but also ensures that educational strategies are more aligned with local priorities, which can lead to increased relevance and effectiveness of education. This relevance can drive better educational outcomes, leading to the local economic context, thereby stimulating economic growth. Moreover, local control can foster innovation in teaching methods and curriculum design, as local authorities can more easily experiment and innovate based on immediate feedback and results, contributing further to the overall development of the country’s education system.

Everyone who has Instagram on their phone probably spends way too much time on it. The amount of content it has to cater to all tastes and needs is amazing. Whatever you want—fashion tips, book reviews, cleaning hacks, or décor ideas—it’s all there. It’s also a great space to pick up some cooking skills and learn a few gourmet recipes that can help you save a few thousand rupees you would spend ordering a takeaway or eating out. Here are our top five picks. We guarantee these pages, with drool-worthy photos of food and drinks, will get you interested in cooking and make you want to eat at home way more than you do.

Ravneet Gill (@ravneeteats)

A British pastry chef, activist, and television presenter based in London, Ravneet Gill makes food look fun, as it should be. She has over 10 years of experience. She is a food columnist for The Guardian besides contributing to other publications like The Telegraph and Observer Food Monthly etc. Her Instagram page, where she has 179k followers, is filled with recipes that will make you want to bake for pleasure. The Toffee Apple Self-Saucing Pudding is one of our favorites. It’s easy to make and simply delicious.

Liam Baker (@chef.liam)

He is an ex-fine dining chef who, according to his bio on Instagram, quit his job to discover his Caribbean heritage. He cooks with fire and smoke like his natives did and his Instagram page is full of cooking tips and tricks that you can use to create culinary masterpieces. He also dishes out plenty of advice on making the best of seasonal ingredients. Learn to make fermented hot sauce, a smooth hummus, and turn tomatoes into yummy dishes other than chutneys with chef Liam.

Kabita Singh (@kabitaskitchen)

A housewife turned content creator, Kabita Singh was awarded the Best Creator in the Food Category at the National Creators Award in India this year. She has over 1.5 million followers on Instagram where she regularly posts recipes of Indian food. Her recipes are simple and perfect for those who are new to cooking. You can learn to make a variety of lentils and snacks like Egg Cheese Sandwich and Aloo Tikki Chaat. She posts quite regularly and has over 2000 videos already.

Eric Chou (@erictriesit)

You will be scrolling through this page for hours. The photos are just so lovely and will have you drooling for some baked goodies. The last time we checked there were just 275 posts but each of these is a delight. We tried to recreate the Strawberry Sandwich which tasted every bit as delightful as it looked. Eric’s conversational tone as he talks about the food and the places he has visited makes his already good content even better.

Jordon Ezra King (@jordonezraking)

Over the years, Jordon has worked in many restaurants and the seriousness with which he prepares food makes it evident that he considers it sacrosanct. There’s something in his tone that begs us to pay attention to what he’s saying. His page has recipes and informative videos on different food cultures. He also teaches you to make some basic stuff like chicken broth and creamy mashed potatoes that can help you enhance the taste of any dish. There are easy recipes that you can whip up in minutes with ready-to-eat ingredients in your pantry like a can of chickpeas.

Mithila is an ancient and artistic land on the map of the world with a rich and renowned cultural legacy. Janakpur, its capital and now the capital of Madhes Province, is a living museum of magnificent arts and crafts. Religious themes are the prime source of inspiration behind the emergence of Mithila art and its religious reference often goes back to the Bhagwat Puran.

Shashibhushan Chaudhary, in his book titled ‘Ethnic Settlement in Ancient India’, writes, “The Bhagwat refers to the Maithili in general” and says its inhabitants were skilled in arts and crafts.

However, it is impossible to trace the exact origin of Mithila art. The excavation and exploration at Murtiya of Sarlahi district, Simraungarh of Bara, Dhanushadham of Dhanusha, and Matihani and Jaleshwor of Mahottari, all located in the Madhes, apparently show that the colossal folk images of various gods and goddesses are made of stone. And these images and idols found in these places obviously bear religious overtones. They are the obvious manifestations of the work of both imagination and spirituality.

Maithil people, traditionally religious minded, paint the images of their favorite gods and goddesses like Shiva, Krishna, Hanuman, Kali, Ganesh, Vishnu and their vehicles too. They also paint pictures of newlyweds seated in a palanquin surrounded by the wedding party. During the wedding ceremony, an auspicious occasion in Maithil society, local people create very special objects of art known as ‘Kohabar’. 

A separate room is set and decorated tastefully with several motifs for its celebration. This painting is done in the inner as well as outer walls of the Kohabar Ghar (honeymoon house). As a popular social practice, its main motto is to increase sexual potency and fertility of newly-married bride and bridegroom. This special painting is drawn on the walls of the house in three places: The Gosaighar (special room for family gods), the Kohabar Gharak-Koniya (corridor or outside of the Kohabar Ghar) and especially decorated and designed for a newly married couple’s room.

These wall paintings are wonderfully depicted by the illiterate women folk of Mithila, and they are quite attractive to look at. They express their artistic sentiments and skills on various occasions, the outer walls of Kohabar are decorated with the paintings of rural life such as a palanquin with its four carriers, shady fruit trees like those of mango, banana, Kadamba and Ashoka. They also paint love-scenes of Lord Krishna and his constant companion Radha with Gopinis. The use of the mango branch or leaves is frequent during the wedding rites of Maithil society. Mango twigs are also used for lighting the sacred fire to purify the Kohabar Ghar. 

Tying the wedding booth with mango leaves customarily signifies the importance of the mango tree as a source of fertility. The newly married couple spends the night of Chaturthy (fourth night of marriage) at Kohabar Ghar. Traditionally, it is mandatory for the married couple to celebrate their marriage in the Kohabar Ghar in the presence of all the deities and umpteen sacred symbols of fertility depicted around the walls of their houses. The bridegroom’s Kohabar has only satt pattas (seven leaves) against 15 leaves in the bride’s Kohabar. This motif of Mithila art is painted in yellow. These paintings can be categorized into two types.

Firstly, the depiction of favorite gods and their consorts like Shiva and Parvati, Radha and Krishna, and Vishnu and Lakshmi, who are believed to bring blessings to newly married couples, and secondly, there are various sketches of animals and plants like elephants, fish, parrots, turtles, bamboo and lotus, which imply fertility as well as peace and prosperity. It is believed that paintings of these symbols bring good fortunes to newly married couples and also bless them to have progeny.

Nature, being the perfect and perennial source of inspiration, is the main theme of Mithila art. So, the women folk of Mithila often depict lovely flowers like the lotus and its leaves, bamboo and the betel leaf. They also like to paint animals like horses, elephants, peacocks and so on as well as gods and goddesses. All these carry symbolic significance in Mithila art. The elephant, horse and palanquin, for example, suggest royalty and richness while the sun and moon are the symbols of good luck. The bamboo represents the future and stands for progeny and prosperity. It also stands for purity and prosperity. 

As the humid climate of the Tarai flatland is suitable for bamboo cultivation, the traditional Mithila paintings depicting sparrows gamboling in bamboo groves is a popular motif. Another important aspect of Mithila painting is Aripan or Aipan in the Maithili language. It is also called Alpna. It is like Rangoli. A kind of floor painting, it is depicted on various auspicious occasions such as janau or Vratbandh (the sacred thread ceremony), Chhathiyar (sixth day rites of a newborn). Mundan (tonsuring ceremony of a child), puberty, conception, initiation into learning, and marriage. 

Coincidently, this form of Mithila art is also drawn in several parts of neighboring India under different names like Alpna in West Bengal, Mandala in Rajasthan and Rangoli in Gujarat. In Bhojpuri areas of Nepal and India, it is famous as Chaukpurna,while in the whole Mithila region it is known as Aripan.

Besides Kohabar and Aripan, Mithila folk art has five distinctive styles — Bharni, Katchni, Tantric, Godna (tatoos), Gobar (Cow dung painting).

Now they are also depicted on clothes, handmade papers and canvases, utensils, pen stands, table clothes and generally they depict various gods and goddesses and other village deities for satisfaction and gratification and fulfillment of local people’s inner desires. Nowadays, they also paint the popular story of Raja Salhesh (Salhesh, the king of Dusadh caste). These paintings are also suitable and sustainable for women’s empowerment.