Nikki rejoicing in traditional newari kitchen
LALITPUR: DEC. 2 – “All the dreams we have seen are not going to come true. We have to live in reality.” While saying this, Nikki had a smile on her face full of contentment and not remorse.
Nikki had a childhood ambition to become a doctor. Nikki Maharjan’s family, who was born in a middle-class household in Lalitpur, was unable to accomplish her aspiration. Her ambition to become a doctor was dashed. As a burden to her family, she gave up her goal of becoming a doctor.
Nikki now has no regrets about not realizing her ambition. Because she is simply dreaming of satisfaction right now. Nikki, the Lions Clubs International District’s regional chairwoman, currently owns a Newari restaurant. ‘Yes!’ laughed Nikki. ‘We must dream of achieving this.’
She owns a Newari restaurant in Nakhipot, Lalitpur. In Nepali, the kitchen is referred to as ‘Dhala: Newa Bhway Chhen.’ ‘Dhala’ refers to a washing vessel, ‘Bhway’ to a banquet, and ‘Chhen’ to a house. Nikki noted that the name was created with the idea of a ‘feast house’ in mind. As soon as you go inside Nikki’s Newari kitchen, you know you’re in a Newari kitchen. The kitchen has a Newari motif. There is a Hakupatasi that looks like a curtain. The sofa has a similar color scheme. It is common practice among the Newar culture to eat and drink while lying down on the ground.
Yomari creating in front of the customer’s eyes catches their attention. Nikki has been running her own Newari kitchen 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It hasn’t been long since he began this project. She stated she chose to create the restaurant because of the extended prohibition imposed by the coronavirus epidemic, as well as a desire to help those in need, even if just a little, and to donate a portion of her income to charity.
Due to the pandemic, the Newari kitchen, which started in the first week of April, had to bear the losses. Nikki, on the other hand, did not give up. Nikki, who holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Kathmandu University, quit her teaching and banking jobs to launch her own company. As a result, she continued to offer the service of bringing meals from home to house even throughout the second part of the prohibitory order. She fed the elderly at Kathmandu’s old age home with part of the money she made this way. She became involved in health fairs, blood drives, and diabetes screenings.
She also opened a Newari restaurant in the Nakhipot district, which is well-known for Sekuwa. She’s had the experience of having many people come seeking for her since she’s a little unusual. ‘You may be seeking for local customers because there is something unusual,’ Nikki added. Yomari receives orders from businesses and schools. Home delivery is also simple for them. There’s no need to be concerned about the restaurant’s failure.
Yomari of ‘Dhala Newa Bhaway Chhen’ is special. In addition, ‘Duck and Buff Chhwela, Egg, Chicken, Buff, Veg and Vigna Mungo Bara (Black Gram)’, Newari lunch set, potato Tama are also its attractive dishes. Nikki says that the restaurant, which was started with an investment of Rs 1.5 million, now provides food, clothes and educational materials to the needy people with some of the money saved from expenses. She is happy in this job as she does not have the pressure and compulsion to work as she used to.
Nikki stated that she intends to construct drinking water tanks at several Mugu schools following this winter. She claims to be studying it right now.
Nikki has spent a long period working in Lalitpur’s Jyapu community. She claims that from there, it is simple to comprehend the plight of Newari women in the valley.
As a result, she believes she should undertake some income-generating work for women. “I intend to give training and equipment to women so that they may earn a living at home,” she stated.
-Manisha Poudel
