Thukpa bhatuk
This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{lang}}, {{transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used. (October 2021) |
Thukpa bhatuk is a common
Soup
In the thukpa bhatuk soup, the main components are the handmade bhatsa noodles, which are similar to the Italian gnocchi.[1] Some bhatsa noodles used for this soup are called gutsi rithuk and another noodle type is called bhatuk. Both of these noodles are referred to as bhatuk in Central Tibet.[1]
Meat is usually a main ingredient in this soup, commonly mutton, beef or yak; however, this soup can also be made vegetarian with a vegetable bouillon.[1]
Customs
Guthuk
At the time of Tibetan New Year the common soup, thukpa bhatuk is transformed into guthuk. Guthuk is only eaten at this time of the year on the eve of Losar, Tibetan New Year. This dish is part of the ritual to dispel any negativities of the old year to make way for a better, positive new year.[1]
There are three main differences between thukpa bhatuk and guthuk:
- Thukpa bhatuk is a common soup while guthuk is only eaten on Nyi-Shu-Gu (Tibetan New Year's Eve)
- Guthuk specifically has nine main ingredients. For example, a traditional guthuk would include meat (mutton, beef, or yak) and dried cheese. A vegetarian guthuk would include mushrooms, celery, labu (radish), peas, tomato, onion, ginger, garlic, and spinach.
- To satisfy rituals with the guthuk, each person gets a large dough ball with a symbol inside revealing a trait of the person who gets it.[2]
- Traditional guthuk
- Thukpa barthuk noodle soup with yak and dried cheese and oracle dough-ball of one's choice
- Vegetarian guthuk
- Thukpa bhatuk noodle soup with mushrooms, labu (radish) and peas and oracle dough-ball[3]
Losar: Tibetan New Year
Losar is made up of lo ('year') and sar ('new'); it is the Tibetan New Year and is celebrated both in
Nyi-Shu-Gu
As explained, Nyi-Shu-Gu is the Tibetan New Year's Eve, which is the 29th day of the last month of the year, according to the Tibetan calendar and Nepali calendar.[4] Nyi-Shu-Gu is a day to dismiss negativities from homes and bodies and to make the guthuk soup. A traditional custom in Central Tibet is to heat water over a fire for everyone to bathe and wash their hair. Normally, people do not bathe everyday, but everyone takes care to be thoroughly clean in preparation for Losar.[4] Once everything is purified, the guthuk soup is eaten and the negativities are expelled.[2]