The Ranas ruled Nepal for just over a century, as Prime Ministers, and are famous to date for their stucco, colonial style palaces, beautif...
The Ranas ruled Nepal for just over a century, as Prime Ministers, and are famous to date for their stucco, colonial style palaces, beautifully manicured gardens, magnificent jewelry, palace intrigues and autocratic rule. This glamorous, colorful regime that shaped the history of the country for 104 years, imported ideas concerning architecture, dress and even administration from far off Europe but in the field of culinary art they did not stray too far from their homeland. The local cuisine was influenced to a certain extent by the khansamas (cooks) brought in from Mughal India after the loot of Lucknow during Jung Bahadur’s time.
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The festivals and ceremonies always brought on more pomp and pageantry making the menus more elaborate than ever. The tables groaned under the display of various delicacies. The main ceremony, which totally involves and rotates around food is the Chaurasi Byanjan. This ceremony is still a must during Pasni (rice feeding of a child), Bartamand (sacred thread Ritual) and Biyah (wedding). This tradition goes back to the epical story of the Ramayan and the wedding celebration of Sita’s marriage to Ram where King Janak is supposed to have served 84 Chaurasi (varieties of food) at the banquet. The display is usually served in beautifully handcrafted silver platters...
