The month of Tabodwe, the eleventh month in the Traditional Myanmar Calendar, is the time for a seasonable festival of making Htamane. The month astrologically falls in Aquarius season where palm workers trample palm juice.
During Tabodwe, the sun rises at 6:20 in the morning and sets at 5:40 in the evening, therefore, the nights are long and the days are short and the weather is cold.
The month of Tabodwe coincides with the time of Htamane festival and the time of harvest. People in groups or families make Htamane and donate it to monasteries and to the people. Htamane is a Myanmar seasonal food made of sticky rice. The ingredients for Htamane include sticky rice, oil, peanuts, sesame seeds, coconut and ginger. Firstly, the sticky rice is washed and soaked for about three hours; peanuts are fried without oil and sesame seeds, ginger and coconut shavings are cut to readiness. The cut coconut is fried. Then, the sticky rice is put into it with salt.
After putting water to it, two persons with their paddles and begin kneading, crushing and stirring the Htamane. Then, sesame seeds, peanuts and coconut shavings are mixed with the Htamane and get a seasonal meal of the traditional Myanmar month of Tabodwe.—Zeya Htet (Min Bu)
