भात भन्या भात हो!

There are some experiences that cannot be translated across cultures. One has to immerse oneself in the context of that cultural experience and speak it's language the way the natives of that culture do, to understand the significance of that experience. A Nepalis relationship with his comfort food is one of those experiences.

Cultural health is tied closely with emotional health. There is nothing that describes a people than the comfort foods of that culture. In Nepal, there is no food that defines 'comfort food' more than rice served with curry and vegetables cooked Nepali style. This poem captures the spirit of the intimate relationship that a Nepali has with his dal, bhat ra tarkari. 

 

 

भात भन्या भात हो!

by Jantarei

बिहान होस या बेलुका  

दिउस भए नि बालै हो 

दालसँग होस या झोलसँग

भात भन्या भात हो! 

नेपाल होस या अम्रिका

नेपालीको जिउने आड हो

२ थाल नबजाइ चित्तै नबुझ्ने

भात भन्या भात हो! 

कति खाइयो नाथे पिज्जा

बर्गर पनि त खाएकै हो

तेस्ता जाबाले पेट के मान्थ्यो

भात भन्या भात हो!

बढी भएको क्याम्पसमा टिफिन

खैरे सोध्छ - "क्या हो त्यो?"

ङिँच्च हाँस्दै ग्वाम्म खाँदै -

"भात भन्या भात हो!"

चिनीरोग लागे ओखति खाउँला

भुँडी लागे नि आफ्नै त हो

मरेपछी पनि पिण्डो खुवाउने

भात भन्या भात हो!

Poem By Forum user Jantarei