Myanmar women adore Thanakha for its sweet fragrance. The botanical name of Thanakha is Hesperethusa Crenulata (ROXB.) ROEM. Thanakha plant or branch is cut into small sizes about 6 or 4 inches. If we grind Thanakha bark with a little water on a circular stone slab called "Kyauk Pyin", we will get a milky yellow liquid or Thanakha paste. Myanmar women usually apply Thanakha paste on their faces and hands and some prefer wearing the whole body.The practice of Thanakha culture has existed in Myanmar society since yore. Thanakha is still preserved as Myanma cultural tradition till today. Thanakha and "Kyauk Pyin" are inseparable. "Kyauk Pyin" is the circular shape of sand stone slab and its surface is elevated in the middle and there is a channel around the rim for the paste to drain into. Kyauk Pyin and Thanakha are essential for the practice of Thanakha culutre in Myanmar society. People use Thanakha for beauty but also for medicinal purpose. Sweet fragrant Thanakha paste is used for cleansing the face of Buddha Image. As Myanmar saying goes:"Mee Phone Hlu Pwe, Tabodwe", the scented bonfire festival is also held by burning Thanakha woods to offer warmth to the Lord Buddha in Myanmar month Tabodwe which falls in February. Because of extreme cold weather in Tabodwe, the scented bonfire or "Mee Phone Pwe" is held in the pagoda precinct with great devotion. In some areas, Thanakha-based cultural festival, "Thanakha Par Toe Pwe" is also held with great traditions. Ethnic women from the hills and the plains across Myanmar cherish and value Thanakha. Both men and women alike have been using Thanakha paste because of its cool sensation and positive effects. In addition that some put extra patch on their cheeks to protect from burning heat of the sun. The farmers and farm girls could get sweaty for working long hours in the field but they always feel fresh because of soothing effect of Thanakha fragrance. That is why Thanakha is the favourite of farmers and workers."Kyauk Pyin" and Thanakha wood can be found in every Myanmar household. Parents wear Thanakha to their offsprings. Likewise, uncles, aunts, elder brothers and sisters used to wear Thanakha to their young nieces, nephews as well as younger brothers and sisters. The farm girls and construction workers used to wear Thanakha paste very thickly for beauty but also for preventing the sunburn.The Thanakha growers and producers are also vital role in this element. Since ancient times, Thanakha culture has been preserving and practicing in Myanmar society. In Mynmar families, the tradition of wearing Thanakha is handed down from generation to generation. The parents, elder brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts never fail to put on Thanakha to young daughters and sons, nieces and nephews. While smearing Thanakha paste on the face, the mother also feeds fragrant residue to her baby. Thanakha plays a crucial role in the daily life of Myanmar people. In Myanmar family, the mother showers her infant baby and introduces Thanakha while praying the Lord to protect her baby from harms and dangers. The mother smears the wet paste of Thanakha on the kid’s forehead and later on both cheeks. The mother also feeds Thanakha paste to her baby which can protect chicken pox and measles. Because of the cool and pleasant Thanakha fragrance and the mother’s endless love, the baby feels great warmth and comfort. While applying Thanakha, the elders teach young children about the importance of good manners, ethics and moral values. Psychologically, Thanakha has positive effects for good concentration enhancing the power of wisdom and memory. Among seasonal festivals, the scented bonfire festival is held where fragrant Thanakha and sandal woods are burnt to provide warmth to the Lord Buddha with great devotion. Such kind of Thanakha-based festival has been holding on the Full Moon Day of Myanmar month Tapodwe which falls in February. Moreover, Thanakha is also used for the washing rituals performed at Mandalay Mahamuni Buddha Temple and such offering of Thanakha paste is renowned as the cultural values of Myanmar society. For fun and friendship, young people do whisking Thanakha paste on the cheeks of young visitors with great traditions in Yaw area.Thanakha is also used for Myanmar traditional medicine. Thanakha is common across Myanmar including the hills and the plains so also the rural and urban areas.Thanakha had long been used as atrditional cosmetic by Myanmar people and recently found ways to foreign market. Thanakha is the part and parcel of Myanmar culture. The paste of Thanakha is beloved to a diverse array of ethnicities and religion. Thanakha is worn by people of all ages, men and women alike, whether rich or poor. The practice of Myanmar Thanakha culture is for skin care, for beauty, to protect the sunburn so also as the traditional medicine. Thanakha is used at traditional festivals, social rituals and religious ceremonies. Although Thanakha wearing is common among people of all ages, women use for beauty and men use for skin care.     

The rice cake in the picture is one of the Korean street dishes made by making bread with alcohol. It is called bread, but unlike bread, which is mainly flour or corn flour, it mixes makgeolli and yeast in it. In the manufacturing process, almost all alcohol components disappear due to heat, but the aroma of alcohol remains. Recently, it has disappeared a lot, but only 10 years ago, it was a common food in street truck stalls. 사진의 떡은 술빵으로 한국의 길거리 음식중 하나이다. 명칭은 빵이지만 밀가루, 옥수수가루가 주재료인 빵과 달리 막걸리와 그 안에 들어있는 효모를 주재료로 더 많이 섞는다. 제조 과정에서 열에 의해 알코올 성분이 대부분 날아가지만 알코올 향이 조금은 남아있다. 요즘은 많이 사라졌지만 불과 10년전만해도 길거리 트럭 노점상에서 흔히 접할 수 있는 음식이었다.

I am Rashila Maharjan. I am studying Anthropology in South Korea. Nowadays, Facebook walls are full of Dashain festival photos. Looking at the Dashain photos sent by my family and friends, I want to briefly share memories of Dashain when I was young. After a late scorching heat of summer, autumn is here. Days are shorter and nights are longer now. The cold breeze in the morning and evening gives me a sign telling, “Dashain ayo” which means “Dashain is here”. Dashain is a major and the longest festival in Nepal. A fifteen-day long festival is a most awaited festival in the year. This year it was celebrated from 7th October to 20th October. All the government agencies, educational institutions private offices get days off during this festival period. Dashain commemorates a great victory of gods over the wicked demons and it symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The story of good over evil is told throughout the festival. By this faith, people forgive each other, and convey greetings and best wishes to each other and pray for a year of a good harvest. On the auspicious occasion of Dashain, all houses are beautifully decorated, painted into different colors to roll out the red carpet for their guests. People do the shopping and buy new clothes. In the commemoration of the Dashain, a goat is slaughtered in every house for the preparation of a feast during the festival. With this preparation, family members and relatives, who had not seen or met for quite a while congregate and visit elders to seek Tika and Jamara, as well as a blessing. (According to the Hindu mythology, Tika (a red vermillion mark on forehead) is believed to give peace and calmness whereas Jamara (young saplings of rice seed tucked on ears) is said to be a sign of the blessing of goddess Durga.) On the other hand, elders of the family give tika as well as a blessing with cash gifts to the younger ones after receiving bows from them. One other activity throughout Dashain is flying kites, ridding on a traditional swing made by the bamboo tree, playing cards, etc. All members of the family gather and play cards while joking with each other, kids fly kites and ride on the swing. In the evening, people gather at the town square and share their stories. As in last year, COVID-19 has caused unleashed chaos and fear among the people. Despite the global pandemic the excitement and the spirit of the festival are not less than before. Nepal witnessed the Dashain celebration with a well-maintained social distance while on the contrary, people who are living abroad and can’t visit their home are using an online platform to celebrate the festival. Overall, Dashain is a grand and favorite festival for all age groups of people which symbolizes unity, harmony, and brotherhood. The autumn wind is blowing gently and the colors of leaves are changing in Korea. This cool weather and smell of autumn bring a feeling of Nostalgia that stems from memories of back to my homeland.