The delights of banana blossom
The banana blossom, scientifically known as Musa acuminata, is the edible flower of a wild species of tropical and subtropical banana. Believed to have originated in Malaysia, it spread to India and Myanmar over time. In Nepal, we call it ‘bungo.’ My mother’s family, who hailed from Burma, often made ‘bungo ko achar’ at my maternal home. Though technically a fruit, the banana flower is often cooked as a vegetable. In Sri Lanka, for instance, it’s used in dishes like vazhaipoo (stir-fry) and keselmuwa (curry). Additionally, banana flowers can be steeped as tea and taken as a nutritional supplement, offering a pleasant, slightly sweet, and floral taste.
Banana blossoms are packed with health benefits. They contain significant amounts of potassium, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and E, as well as powerful flavonoids like quercetin and catechin. These nutrients can alleviate joint discomfort, increase bone mineral density, and reduce osteocalcin levels, thus preventing osteoporosis. Furthermore, banana flowers are rich in fiber, potassium, calcium, copper, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and vitamin E. This robust nutritional profile contributes to a range of health benefits.
Nutritional Value (per 100g)
Energy: 51 kcal
Protein: 1.6g
Fat: 0.6g
Carbohydrate: 9.9g
Fiber: 5.7g
Calcium: 56mg
Phosphorus: 73.3mg
Iron: 56.4mg
Copper: 13mg
Potassium: 553.3mg
Magnesium: 48.7mg
Vitamin E: 1.07mg
Recipe: Bungo ko achar (Banana blossom pickle)
This tongue-tickling pickle is a unique preparation frequently made in my maternal home whenever the banana tree yields a flower. Here is our family recipe:
Ingredients
3 cups chopped banana florets (from approximately 3 medium-sized flowers)
60 grams tamarind (size of 2 lemons, make a thick extract in water)
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
15 medium-sized long green chilies (finely chopped)
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon asafoetida
Salt to taste (approximately 1/4 cup)
1 cup sesame oil
Method
Remove the dark purple-pink petals from the banana flowers. Detach the florets attached to the base of the flower and immediately place them in water mixed with a spoon of curd.
After removing all the florets, take each floret and eliminate the thick dark stamen in the center. Chop these finely and put them back into the curd water.
Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan and splutter the mustard and cumin seeds. Add the asafoetida and reduce the flame.
Add the chopped green chili and sauté until it loses its moisture.
Drain the florets and add them to the oil. Sauté well for a few minutes.
Pour in the sesame paste, salt, turmeric powder, and chili powder. Simmer until the pickle thickens. Finish with lemon juice.
Ensure the pickle is thick enough so that when you drop a spoonful onto a plate it doesn’t flow.
Remove from heat, cool, and store the pickle in a sterilized bottle at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
Note: This pickle stays good for about a month at room temperature. It can be used as a condiment for various dishes, serving as a side dish to complement the main meal.
Recipe: Banana flower salad
Ingredients
3 cups chopped banana florets (from approximately 3 medium-sized flowers)
60 grams tamarind (size of 2 lemons, make a thick extract in water)
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
15 medium-sized long green chilies (finely chopped)
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon asafoetida
Salt to taste (approximately 1/4 cup)
1 cup sesame oil
Method
Remove the bracts of the male banana blossom and discard the developing mini bananas. Save the large colorful bracts for decorating the serving dish.
Remove the bracts and developing fruit until the bract color changes to a pale hue. Save the flowers on tiny ovaries that will eventually develop into bananas for the salad.
Soak all mature flowers in water in a bowl. Remove the pistil and tiny translucent bract-like structures. Discard these.
Wash the prepared flowers in clean water and boil for approximately 10 minutes until tender. Discard the water and gently squeeze the cooked banana flowers to drain excess water. Spread them on paper towels to dry further.
Boil potatoes, skin them, and cut them into half-inch cubes.
Dry roast sesame seeds and peanuts separately, then grind them separately into a fine consistency in a food processor.
Mix the cubed potatoes and boiled banana flowers in a dish. Add ground sesame seed and peanut, salt to taste, and lime juice. Mix well.
Heat cooking oil in a small pan until smoking. Add fenugreek seeds, chopped chilies, and turmeric powder. Stir until fenugreek seeds turn black. Quickly pour this mixture on top of the salad and mix well.
This salad is now ready to serve and offers a delicious and nutritious way to enjoy banana blossoms. Both recipes showcase the versatility and health benefits of banana blossoms, making them worthy of a place in your kitchen. Whether enjoyed as a tangy pickle or a flavorful salad, these dishes offer a unique taste of tradition and wellness.
The author is a UK based R&D chef
A brisk tour of Kathmandu’s heritage sites
The Buddha Purnima is over but peace and bliss is very much in the air in the studios of Nepal Art Gallery (the venue of the exhibition titled Deities of Nepal-II, which started on May 21 and will remain open till June 10) drowned in a stream of mellifluous music in the midst of a cacophonous concrete jungle.
Two lion-like, friendly-looking creatures (Sharduls?) welcome you as you enter the modern building that, frankly speaking, does not have much to offer in terms of traditional architecture of Nepal. But then it will be wrong to judge the council by its building as it has done quite a lot since its establishment in 1962 to promote Nepal’s art and craft.
As you enter the building and turn right, a spacious gallery draws you. There, next to a beautiful idol of Ganesh, the divine remover of obstacles, Tsering Phonjo Gurung`s monastery (medium: Canvas), adorned with colorful windows and prayer flags, appears to rise with the clouds, unlike the modern-day centers of faith that rise on the lap of Mother Nature, obscuring Nature herself, particularly one of her finest creations, the lush-green woods.
Close by, gently rises Priyanka Karn´s Patan Krishna Mandir in Mithila style (medium: canvas), with ‘Hare Krishna’ in a yellow background, bringing a generous touch of Mithilanchal. Karn appears to bring Mithila finesse and fertility to the ruggedness of the mountains that the Shikhar (mountain-like) style seems to represent.
In a large canvas titled Snapshot(s) of Lalitpur`s Heritage(s) (acrylic & oil color), Raju Chitrakar offers glimpses of the archaeological heritages of Lalitpur, the city of fine arts.
In a background of Ashtamangal (eight auspicious symbols), he presents in broad strokes shrines and the presiding deities of those shrines.
Among other heritages, the canvas sports the Kumari Chhen and the living goddess, Matsyendranath and his abode in Patan, Shakyamuni Buddha in his lotus posture and his stupas at Lagankhel and Pulchowk.
Gushing with water, traditional stone spouts of the Kathmandu valley come to life in Rabita Kisi`s artwork, which is part of her Dhungedhara series VII. While a plastic vessel is quenching thirst, another eagerly awaits, symbolizing, perhaps, a parched urban jungle`s eternal quest and thirst for water.
Bishal Maharjan`s Makara (acrylic on canvas) presides over a corner with its coiled snout, leaving a powerful impression that a finely executed piece of artwork never fails to do.
Close by, Naresh Sundar Sainju`s piece of art titled Bramhayani Shakti Pith-Treasures of Ancient Panauti (medium: acrylic on canvas) perhaps offers a glimpse of our ancient heritages slipping into oblivion because of our collective neglect.
Mixed perhaps with the artist´s sad mood at a poor state of affairs vis-a-vis the preservation of our history, it seeks to send a powerful message to the rich and the powerful, who would do well to wake up before it’s a little too late.
Jyoti Prakash`s 108 Ganesha (mix media) stands out, both in terms of size and price. The remover of obstacles, by the way, has a formidable presence also in the form of Sushma Rajbhandari´s Ashok Vinayak (acrylic color), one of Kathmandu Valley’s four principal Vinayaks.
Other vignettes of the valley’s socio-religious-spiritual-cultural milieu are all there, in the form of royal palace squares, Lokeshwars, Lakhe dance, shrines in the midst of busy thoroughfares and ancient temples bathed in modern street lights.
At the center of all this stands Chandra Shyam Dangol’s Bauddhanath stupa carved in stone, with Buddha’s all-seeing eyes looking in every imaginable direction in the form of universal consciousness. Indeed, there’s no escaping his all-seeing eyes.
While trying to read into the artworks on display, this scribbler had almost forgotten to notice the gallery wall displaying what appeared like a complex web of nerves. He was already quite tired and chances of him getting lost into the web were pretty high.
A marathon tour
Then and there came Amish Joshi, an amicable guide and a BFA (first year) student. Showing the way through wide and narrow roads and alleyways of the valley, Joshiji explained that the web of nerves was, in fact, the interwoven network of roads connecting the valley and the idea behind this exhibition was to offer people glimpses of the valley’s architectural heritages, including the major shrines located along the arteries.
Only then did this scribbler come to know the reason behind his exhaustion: An hour-long, marathon visit of major heritages in the valley had taken its toll, leaving him with no energy to move further. After catching a breath, as this scribbler hit the road again, the sweet music from the art studio drowned and cacophony prevailed, making him wonder how on Earth artists find the peace of mind to create works of art in the midst of chaos.
Safety of artworks
Summing up, a piece of art is simply invaluable and Nepal is home to art lovers, who have high regard for artists and their works of art. Still, there are elements around the world, who even seek to desecrate works of art. Nepal’s art fraternity, including artists, art studios and relevant government authorities, should leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety and security of artworks.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: Nepal taking on Netherlands today
Nepal are locking their horns against the Netherlands in their first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup today.
Nepal, which are in Group D, will play against the Netherlands at 9:15 pm Nepali time at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, USA.
Along with Nepal, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South Africa are in Group D.
Nepal will play their second match against Sri Lanka on June 11, third against South Africa on June 14 and fourth against Bangladesh on June 16.
Nepal are playing in the World Cup after a decade.
It is necessary for Nepal, which are aiming to make into Super Eight, to register a victory in the first match.
So far, out of 12 T20I matches, Nepal have won five matches, lost six matches and made one match draw.
Nepal and the Netherlands are competing for the first time in the World Cup.
Nepali team
Rohit Paudel (team captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Asif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla, Lalit Rajbansi, Karan KC, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratik GC, Sandeep Jora, Abhinas Bohara, Sagar Dhakal and Kamal Singh Airee.
BAR: Your Honor!
The Nepal Bar Association (NBA) is an important force in advancing justice and reshaping the country’s legal system. Founded in 1956, this umbrella organization for all bar units across the country plays a critical role in maintaining judicial independence, strengthening ties between the bar and the bench, and promoting human rights. Creating fora for legal professionals to debate and confront urgent legal system challenges is one of NBA’s most important responsibilities. Events like the yearly All-Nepal Lawyers National Conference give attorneys a forum to discuss and suggest changes. The 2024 conference, for example, had themes like ‘Competent Lawyers, Dignified Bar’ and ‘Restructuring of the Judiciary’, demonstrating NBA’s dedication to boosting public trust in the legal profession and promoting judicial independence. With the ability to navigate many important areas of influence and responsibility, NBA is well-positioned to play a significant role in Nepal's legal and judicial environment.
Judicial freedom
The NBA has been a vocal supporter of an independent judiciary. To make sure that political influence and corruption do not make inroads into the judicial system, the group frequently participates in discussions and agreements about judicial appointments and reorganization of the judiciary. This involves raising concerns about the Judicial Council’s makeup and the hierarchy of judges, especially in view of the process governing judges’ nominations that has sparked controversies.
Helping future attorneys
Supporting new generations of attorneys is one of the NBA’s major responsibilities. Many young attorneys struggle to start their practices and feel cut off from more experienced members of the bar. To ease the transition from academic studies to professional practice, NBA is aiming to promote mentoring programs and create a more inclusive atmosphere. This involves offering forums for experienced attorneys and novices to collaborate and share expertise.
Reforms and public trust
In an effort to boost public trust in the legal system, NBA is actively engaged in more extensive legal changes. This entails promoting legislation that improves judicial efficiency and transparency as well as pressing for constitutional modifications. The association plays a key role in making laws by helping with the formulation of the Integrated Legal Aid Policy, which attempts to increase underprivileged populations’ access to the legal system.
Political influence and law
Although political affiliations are inevitable for lawyers, NBA works to strike a balance where legal practice takes precedence over political activity. While recognizing that politics has an impact on the legal community, it stresses that legal advocacy, professional competency and judicial accountability should continue to be its key priorities.
Access to justice
Working together with global partners like the UNDP and the Norwegian government, NBA has been developing initiatives to improve access to justice. The initiatives include the provision of free legal services, with a focus on women and vulnerable groups, and the assistance of local judicial committees in strengthening their ability to administer justice. NBA’s participation in these initiatives demonstrates its dedication to making justice available to all segments of the society.
Prospective courses
Looking ahead, NBA intends to keep up its efforts to preserve the independence and integrity of the judiciary, create opportunities for professional development of its members and implement legal changes. By tackling both internal obstacles within the legal fraternity and more general systemic problems, NBA hopes to fortify Nepal’s legal system and advance equity for everyone.
A key player in Nepal’s legal system, NBA takes on a variety of roles, including promoting judicial independence, mentoring aspiring attorneys and expanding access to justice via international partnerships and legislative changes. It plays a variety of roles, including advocating for judicial changes, making sure attorneys are represented in judge nominations and offering vital legal services to marginalized groups. The integrity and accessibility of Nepal’s judicial system depend heavily on their ongoing efforts. NBA is a major contributor to maintaining Nepal’s independent, equitable, and open legal system in addition to standing out for the rights and interests of attorneys. The integrity and advancement of the legal profession in Nepal are greatly dependent on NBA as it keeps working to enhance the legal profession, the legal education system and the judicial system as a whole. The NBA’s work is essential to guaranteeing that Nepal’s judicial system is impartial, autonomous and competent to preserve democracy and justice. NBA remains a pillar in the fight for a strong and effective legal system in Nepal by attending to the interests of its members and pushing for structural changes.
