I am part of the Newa community in the Kathmandu Valley, known for its rich fusion of flavors, history, and cultural practices in its cuisine.
Buffalo meat is a staple ingredient. In my culture, food is integral to social and family events, making vegetarianism a challenge. Choosing to be vegetarian during the month of Shrawan led to feelings of social isolation and discomfort, as friends and family struggled to adapt to my dietary choices, often resulting in awkward moments at feasts.
Moreover, adopting a vegetarian diet necessitated a change in culinary skills. Accustomed to preparing meat-centric dishes, it was a struggle to craft tasty and fulfilling vegetarian alternatives. Lacking experience in cooking vegetarian cuisine, we found it hard to diversify, often ending up with repetitive and unappetizing meals.
Despite these challenges, I managed to maintain a vegetarian diet throughout Shrawan and have decided to continue until the Gunla month concludes, a holy period for Newa Buddhists.