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As a Brahmin from the hills, I was raised with certain dietary restrictions during certain holy days. Being told not to eat ‘impure stuff’ only fueled my curiosity and cravings for those forbidden foods. One such dish that I used to avoid as a Brahmin was Pani Roti.

However, as I delved deeper into the culinary world, I came to realize the significance and hidden treasures of Pani Roti. Many people jokingly referred to it as the ‘Bahun ko pasta’—the Brahmin version of pasta, made with vegetables but without garlic. Yet, as I expanded my knowledge of different cultures and cuisines, I discovered that Pani Roti was closely related to Thenthuk, a Tibetan hand-pulled noodle soup.

Pani Roti is primarily prepared during Ekadasi, the eleventh lunar day of each of the two lunar phases in a Vedic calendar month. On these days, fasting is observed, and food items like rice, dal, cereal grains, onion, and garlic are avoided. Some devotees consume only fruits or fast without consuming anything. In the hills of Nepal, where food scarcity has been a persistent issue, fasting is not mandatory, and Pani Roti is prepared on two significant Ekadashis called ‘Thuli Ekadashi,’ which includes Harishayani Ekadashi and Haribodhini Ekadashi.

The name ‘Pani Roti’ can be translated to ‘bread in water’ in English, but it goes beyond its simple literal meaning. Pani Roti is a traditional Nepali cuisine that is not only a simple dish but also a nutritious and flavorful one. Unlike many festival dishes that require several accompanying dishes, Pani Roti stands as a complete and satisfying meal.

The preparation of Pani Roti involves cooking wheat flour dough balls in a pressure cooker along with curry made from vegetables like leaves (karkalo ko paat), the young stalks (gaaba or gaava), and the taro tubers or corms (pidhaalu) of taro plant or unripe pumpkin, complemented by the addition of greens. This delightful combination of wheat flour balls and vegetable curry provides sustenance for an extended period, making it an ideal choice for Nepali villagers engaged in extensive farming work with limited time for cooking.

In contrast, Thenthuk, originating from Tibetan cuisine, is a versatile and heartwarming soup commonly found in the streets of Kathmandu, especially in Tibetan restaurants and small eateries. Thenthuk, also known as hand-pulled noodle soup or thukpa, is a delightful and nutritious dish popular in Amdo, Tibet, where it is often served as a comforting lunch or dinner option.

The main components of Thenthuk include wheat flour dough, mixed vegetables, and tender Himalayan goat (Chyangra), mutton, or yak meat. The adaptability of Thenthuk allows for modern variations like Vegetable Thenthuk to cater to vegetarians and those seeking a lighter option. By incorporating seasonal and local vegetables, Vegetable Thenthuk remains fresh, vibrant, and brimming with flavors.

The clear vegetable broth in Thenthuk allows the natural tastes of the vegetables to shine through, creating a light and healthy option suitable for any time of day. Whether enjoyed as a nourishing lunch or a comforting dinner, Thenthuk provides the necessary sustenance to keep individuals energized without feeling overly heavy or indulgent.

Both Pani Roti and Thenthuk embody the essence of Nepali and Tibetan comfort cuisine. These dishes carry cultural significance, evoke nostalgia, and offer heartwarming flavors and nutrition. Pani Roti and Thenthuk showcase the beauty of traditional cooking methods, the use of seasonal and local ingredients, and the power of culinary heritage in bringing families and communities together.

In a culinary landscape that often emphasizes novelty and innovation, it’s essential to celebrate and preserve the unique flavors and cultural heritage embedded in dishes like Pani Roti and Thenthuk. These traditional delicacies offer more than just sustenance; they are a reflection of our history, values, and the essence of what it means to share a meal with loved ones.

As we savor the simplicity and depth of flavors found in Pani Roti and Thenthuk, let us celebrate the culinary treasures that connect us to our roots and enrich our lives. As we gather around the table to enjoy these cherished dishes, let us also take a moment to appreciate the elders in our families who pass down these recipes, keeping the flame of tradition alive for future generations to enjoy.

In this rainy season, you can enjoy the warmth and spice of Pani Roti or Thenthuk, comforting your body and soul. For those in (or, from) Dharan, you can even compare your version of veg Thukpa with Pani Roti and Thenthuk and savor the unique delights of each dish.

As we embrace the legacy of Pani Roti and Thenthuk, let us remember that food is not just a means of sustenance, it’s a gateway to our culture, heritage, and memories that bind us together as a community. Let us cherish and celebrate these comfort cuisines that have been an integral part of our lives, connecting us to our past and infusing warmth into our present.

The author is a UK-based R&D chef

The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently tracking several COVID-19 "variants of interest", including EG.5 which is on the rise in several countries, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Wednesday, according to the United Nations.

"The risk remains of a more dangerous variant emerging that could cause a sudden increase in cases and deaths,” he said.

EG.5 is a sublineage of the omicron variant and has been detected in 51 countries, including the United States, China, South Korea and Japan, according to an initial risk evaluation.

While overall risk is low, "based on its genetic features, immune escape characteristics, and growth rate estimates, EG.5 may spread globally and contribute to a surge in case incidence." 

Tedros recalled that three months have passed since he declared the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency, though at the time he cautioned that it remains a threat, United Nations reported.

Since then, the number of reported cases, hospitalizations and deaths globally has continued to decline.

Meanwhile, the number of countries reporting data to WHO also significantly declined. In the past month, only 25 per cent reported their COVID-19 deaths and only 11 per cent reported their hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions.

Tedros said the risk of severe disease and death is vastly lower than it was a year ago, due to increasing population immunity - whether from vaccination, infection or both - and from early diagnosis with better clinical care.

“Despite these improvements, WHO continues to assess the risk of COVID-19 to global public health as high. The virus continues to circulate in all countries, it continues to kill and it continues to change,” he added.

In response, WHO has published recommendations for countries, which include updating their national COVID-19 programs to move towards longer term sustained management of the disease.

They are also urged to continue collaborative surveillance to detect significant changes in the virus, as well as trends in disease severity and population immunity.

Tedros called for all countries to report COVID-19 data, especially on death and severe disease, genetic sequences, and vaccine effectiveness.

Governments should continue to offer vaccination against the disease, especially for the most at-risk groups, and ensure equitable access to vaccines, tests and treatment.

Nearly seven million people have died from COVID-19, and there have been more than 769 million confirmed cases worldwide.

The virus first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and WHO declared the global pandemic the following March.

The Meteorological Forecasting Division has forecasted light to moderate rain in most of the places of the country on Sunday.

The Division said that there are chances of heavy to very heavy rain with thunder and lightning in a few places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Pashchim Provinces and in one or two places of Madesh Province.

Likewise, the Division has predicted generally to be mostly cloudy throughout the country with the potentiality of the occurrence of light to moderate rain at most of the places of the country tonight.

Heavy to very heavy rain with thunder and lightning has been forecast in some places of Karnali and Sudur Pashchim Provinces, at a few places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki  and Lumbini Provinces. 

It has predicted extremely heavy rainfall in one or two places of Sudur Pashchim Province.

The Kathmandu Valley has been receiving rainfall since this morning.

The Division said that presently the axis of monsoon trough is located towards north (near Nepal) from the average position while Nepal experiences influences of a low-pressure area surrounding the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states of India.

Stakeholders are concerned about various factors posing a threat to the Kaligandaki river civilization. The river that originates in Mustang traverses through Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Syangja, and Gulmi and so on.

The river is additionally valued for being the source of Shaligram, a dark or brown dark stone which is believed to have a religious significance.

Speaking at a program at Kushma Bazar of Pabat on Saturday, the participants said the river had its own distinct identity and features, remaining intricately linked with human civilization.

They demanded prompt actions to stop an illegal quarrying based in the river. 

The participants were univocal on making proper utilization of its natural resources, without hampering its environmental and ecological integrity.

Kamal Nayanacharya of Muktinath Temple who is long associated with the conservation and promotion endeavors of the river expressed his concern over an increasing threat to its essence and the Shaligram stone.  

He said a religious event aiming to draw the attention of national and international community for the urgency to conserve the river has been scheduled to take place from February 21 to March 6 next year in Sarbasiddhidham Panchakot of Baglung.

Prof Dr Jagannath Regmi urged the state to be attentive for the protection of river waters which is needed for sustaining all aspects of human life.  "The river holds an additional significance over its religious and touristic aspects and it should be well conserved," he asserted.

Former minister Bikash Lamsal said the state's action was needed to preserve the river's integrity, primarily from Muktinath to Devghat while Gandaki Province Assembly member Bhakta Kunwar pledged to take initiation to conserve the river, underlining the need of also protecting the lives depending on the river.

Illegal extractions taking place along the Parbat and Myagdi sections of the river have threatened the ecological aspect of the river, it is said.

Kushma municipality chief administrative officer Chandika Poudel said the role of the three-tier government was vital to keep the river and other aspects associated with it unharmed.