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As a young chef, I was fascinated by the idea of chaurasi byanjan, which means a grand feast featuring 84 different dishes all served at once. It’s not your typical three- or four-course meal. It’s an incredible array of flavors and textures. ‘Chaurasi’ in Nepali means 84, and ‘byanjan’ refers to various types of food. This intriguing tradition is deeply rooted in Nepali culture and is reserved for special occasions like weddings and rice-feeding ceremonies, which mark a child’s transition to solid foods.

I started looking for information about these 84 dishes in books and online, but I couldn’t find much. Gradually, I went from just being a chef to becoming a research and development chef with a hobby of exploring Nepali cuisine and promoting it internationally. When I had some free time, I searched the internet to learn more about chaurasi byanjan. I was fascinated by it and wanted to learn more.

I found something similar called ‘chhpan bhog’ in the Indian context. It was a completely vegetarian meal that used to be served to Lord Krishna. So, I wondered, did Nepali people add 28 meat dishes to the 56 dishes of chhpan bhog? The problem was I didn’t know much Sanskrit which made it really hard to access Eastern knowledge. There had to be some way for me to find out more about this elaborate feast.

I turned to people who seemed knowledgeable about chaurasi byanjan. The first theory connects it to Maharshi Charak, the father of Ayurveda, and his book Charak Samhita, but detailed information is scarce. Another theory links it to the wedding ceremony of Ram and Sita, hosted by King Janak. Yet the details are elusive. There are many other theories too but the information is either limited or vague.

The most convincing theory suggests that this tradition began during the Malla dynasty and it’s purely an indigenous way of serving a feast. It’s said that this tradition continues at Bikramshil Mahabihar (Bhagwan Bahal) in Thamel, Kathmandu.

After uncovering these facts, I sought out gurus with knowledge of chaurasi byanjan. After months of following these experts, some claimed to be writing books on the subject, promising details upon publication, while others said it was their lifelong research and chose not to share. People claimed to know about it but were hesitant to share the details.

I resumed my research and discovered that chaurasi byanjan is more than just a feast. It’s a celebration of balance and variety. Each dish on the menu holds a special significance, whether it’s the spiced lentils of bara or the fermented leafy greens of gundruk. The culinary journey begins with staples like rice and dal, representing the heart of Nepali cuisine, and extends to intricate desserts like peda and rasgulla, showcasing the country’s sweet tooth.

Chaurasi byanjan doesn’t have a fixed set of varieties. It all depends on preferences, seasonality, locality, region, and the dishes typically associated with celebrations. The choices of a multimillionaire and a middle-class family would differ. Exploring Nepal’s chaurasi byanjan is a sensory journey, offering insights into the rich tapestry of culture, the abundance of nature, and the artistry of cuisine that defines this remarkable culinary tradition. Next time you see a feast laid out, try noticing all the different food and drinks there are on the special spread.

The Nepali population was the fastest growing Asian group, growing from almost 52,000 people in 2010 to almost 206,000 people in 2020, according to the US Census Bureau. 

More than 5.2m people identified as Chinese, the largest group among respondents who were Asian alone or in combination with another group, according to Census. They were followed by Asian Indians with 4.7m people, Filipinos with 4.4m people and the Vietnamese population at 2.2m people. California was home to the largest share of the six most common Asian groups in the US New York had the second-largest share of Chinese residents, while Texas had the second-largest share of Asian Indian residents.

The United States had 3.5m residents who identify as Middle Eastern or North African, Venezuelans were the fastest-growing Hispanic group last decade and Chinese and Asian Indians were the two largest Asian groups, according to the US Census Bureau.

The most detailed race and ethnicity data to date from the 2020 census was released Thursday more than three years after the once-a-decade head count, which determines political power, the distribution of $2.8trn in annual federal funding and holds up a mirror to how the US has changed in a decade. The delay was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the implementation of a new method to protect the confidentiality of participants.

Among the census respondents who identified as white, English was the most common detailed group written down on the form where people were asked to elaborate on their backgrounds, with 46.6m people saying they were English alone or in any combination. They were followed by those identifying as German, with 45m people, and Irish, with 38.6m people. 

With inputs from agencies

A person died and 10 others were injured in a clash that occurred at Jayandu Juvenile Center at Duduwa Rural Municipality-6 in Banke district.

Superintendent of Police (SP) of Banke Santosh Singh Rathor said that Sulav KC (21)t from Rupandehi died in the clash. KC succumbed to critical head injuries while receiving treatment at the Nepalgunj Medical College. 

Of the injured, four are in critical condition.

Likewise, the reform center was vandalized and set on fire.

At present, police personnel have been mobilized at the inmate center.

Rabindra Basnet is a senior physiotherapist at HAMS Hospital. Basnet, 33, regards physiotherapy as a manual art rather than just a treatment with various systematic protocols.

After he had completed high school, a relative from the medical field informed him about the scope of physiotherapy, which prompted him to pursue a course in India.  “At first, I was just going because my parents wanted me to. I wasn’t very interested,” he says.

However, after seeing patients with disabilities during the second year of college, the boy from Pharping changed his mind. He felt compelled to help those in need and make them feel better. And he realized physiotherapy could be the answer to many health issues.

Once he knew what he wanted to do in life, it wasn’t difficult to put his heart and soul into it. During his undergraduate years, he participated in most of the college events. He even earned the title of Mr Fresher and was admired by his teachers and friends for his diligence.

Driven by curiosity and passion, he started getting engaged in different research programs. During the winter breaks, he preferred taking up small odd jobs instead of coming back to Nepal. He says he wanted to work as much as he could.

During his senior year, he worked as a physiotherapist at a hospital in New Delhi for eight months. Eventually, he also joined different hospitals and clinics as a consultant physiotherapist. He even had the opportunity to be the Department Chief of Physiotherapy in 2015, and that was the post he held for two years before returning to Nepal.

After his return, he opened his own clinic and later joined HAMS Hospital where he has been working for six years now. “It doesn’t even feel like work and that’s the best part of my job,” says Basnet. He believes he is doing what he was born to do. He says being able to help people fills him with a sense of peace.

Talking about a 21-year-old patient who had GB syndrome, a rare condition when a person’s immune system attacks the nerves, he recalls how he was able to make him walk. “The patient was on the verge of depression since he could potentially lose movement of his limbs. He could have been wheelchair-bound but now he’s out and about on his motorbike,” says Basnet.

Besides working at the hospital, Basnet has an active social life. He is involved with several sports clubs. He has been associated with cricket tournaments like Cooch Behar Trophy U-19 Match and Ranji Trophy Match in 2011, 13th SAFF Championship, Maldives Cricket Team in 2012 as well as Qatar Airways Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League Football Tournament in 2019. He has also served in the Nepal Super League in 2021. He has been part of several wrestling tournaments and was involved in the blockbuster movie ‘Sultan’ in the capacity of a physiotherapist.

His primary area of expertise is musculoskeletal physiotherapy—treatment for muscles, bones, joints, nerves, tendons, and ligaments. “My main job is to provide quality care and ensure a speedy recovery,” he says, adding he wants to make patients better as quickly as possible despite the circumstances. Because his abilities and practices revolve around mobilizing the body and boosting patients’ strength, he always meets them in person for accurate diagnosis. Even during the pandemic, he never stopped working.

As a form of home therapy, different massage machines are used in Nepal. But they are mostly used for temporary relaxation. On the other hand, physiotherapy gets to the root of the pain rather than just easing it. It encourages people to seek diagnosis rather than relying on assumptions. Through his work, he hopes to educate people about muscle mobilization and exercise for healthy body movement.

Basnet is quite a cheerful man, earning patients’ trust through both his words and work. At the same time, he can be stern when patients are careless about their health. He has a natural flair for convincing people and makes sure his patients know what they are going through and how Basnet can help them. By doing so, he fills patients with hope, which he counts as one of his strengths.

He tries to educate his patients about exercise, mindful eating, and living a healthy lifestyle, as he is extremely conscious about health and fitness. He plays futsal with his colleagues and friends at least four days a week. To maintain a good work-life balance, he listens to music, watches movies, and spends quality time with his family.

Basnet adds that today’s generation spends a lot of time bound to their office desks and that it can result in postural issues. To spread awareness about how correct posture and gait can prevent a lot of physical problems, he has conducted workshops at various banks and schools. And he intends to keep at it.

He has also participated in many hospital-led campaigns and rehabilitation programs. In 2021, he was honored with Hams Champions for his outstanding performance. In the future, he wants to expand pulmonary rehab centers across Nepal to assist people with respiratory difficulties as well as work on more awareness programs targeted towards pregnant women and the elderly.