Why is Kwati eaten during Janai Purmina?
What is Kwati?
Kwati is a traditional hot dish with 9 different types of sprouted beans rich in nutrition. These beans include;
- Red kidney beans (Rajma)
- Black-eyed beans (Bodi)
- Chickpeas (Chana)
- Blackgram beans(Mas)
- Soya beans (Bhatmas)
- Mung beans (Mung)
- White beans (Seto Bodi)
- Field beans (Kerau)
- Fava beans (Bakulla)
This dish is mainly cooked with a blend of spices and is primarily eaten during Janai Purnima or Gunlaa Punhi.
How did Kwati originate?
The term ‘Kwati’ originated in the Newari community, where ‘Kwa’ means Hot and ‘ti’ means soup. This dish carries a vast cultural significance, especially among Hindus.
This dish is prepared by cooking nine types of sprouted beans and is eaten during Janai Purnima among family and relatives.
What is the Cultural Significance of Kwati?
Kwati was anciently eaten by farmers after a long tiring day at the field to rejuvenate themselves with high nutrition and energy during rice plantation. This shows the cultural significance of agriculture in Nepal.
Similarly, when the monsoon ends and the colder days approach, there is a culture of eating Kwati to fight off cold and fulfil the nutritional requirements.
What are the Health Benefits of Kwati?
With a variety of cultural significance, it has numerous health benefits as well. These health benefits include;
- Kwati fulfils the requirements of all the essential vitamins and minerals in a person.
- It improves immunity power and helps fight off diseases.
- It is rich in fibre which improves digestion and prevents constipation.
- It is high in protein which provides energy.
- It prevents gastritis and relieves the common cold and cough.
- It improves mental health.
- It fulfils the nutrition requirements of malnourished people.
- It benefits diabetic patients by balancing their sugar levels.
- It reduces cholesterol levels and improves blood circulation.
- Protect people from heart problems and diseases.
- Make bones stronger and healthier.
- Help to maintain the weight.
- Improves the health during the maternity period.
How much to eat?
Kwati is rich in protein, fibre, and vitamins. Frequent consumption of it can cause excessive accumulation of protein because our bodies cannot digest high amounts of protein.
Protein and fibre, when become excess can cause other health effects such as uric acid, constipation, diarrhoea, and other complications.
Thus, Kwati should be eaten in moderation. 1-2 times a month can fulfil the nutritious requirements per person.
Image Attributions: By Haribanshnp - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72314571