KATHMANDU, June 29: Nepal is celebrating National Paddy Day today with the traditional meal of dahi chiura (curd and beaten rice), a long-standing custom observed on the 15th day of Asar, the peak rice planting season, which has fallen today, June 29.
Farmers eat curd and beaten rice after working in muddy fields, believing it restores energy and helps cool the body during the hot and humid monsoon. The tradition has spread beyond farming communities, with people from all walks of life also marking the occasion by sharing the meal.
Curd holds a special place in Nepali culture. It is regarded as an auspicious food and is commonly offered before important events, including long journeys, overseas travel and other significant occasions. Applying a tika mixed with curd and rice before leaving home remains a widely followed custom, and eating curd beforehand is believed to bring good fortune.
Ashar 15: A celebration of paddy plantation with savoring yogur...
The health benefits of curd are also widely recognised. Ayurveda considers it beneficial for digestion, while buttermilk prepared from churned curd is traditionally regarded as a healthy drink after meals. Curd and beaten rice are also commonly consumed during bouts of diarrhoea because they are believed to aid recovery.
The popularity of dahi chiura has helped turn Asar 15 into one of Nepal's major cultural festivals.
The government formally introduced National Paddy Day in 2005 after a ministerial decision taken in December 2004. The day highlights the importance of agriculture in Nepal, where farming remains the primary livelihood for much of the population.
Farmers spend much of Asar transplanting rice seedlings while singing traditional Asare folk songs. Rice planting has long been accompanied by music, dancing and playful mud splashing, especially among young people. Many also believe everyone should step into the muddy fields at least once during the month.
This year, however, rice transplantation has fallen behind schedule because many parts of the country have yet to receive sufficient rainfall by mid-Asar. Farmers in some areas have also complained of shortages of chemical fertilisers, although the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment says adequate stocks are available.
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