As Magh Sankrati is right around the corner, workers are in process of making molasses (Chaku) in Tokha on January 02, 2022.

Rajbhai Shrestha, the owner of Tokha Chaku Industries, said, “Molasses is highly demanded and consumed in winter season as it is exported to different markets out the valley as well as inside. It is also one of the traditional foods for Newars.”

Talking about the making process of molasses, “First of all jaggery made out of sugarcane is cooked until it turns into caramel and leaves it for some time until it turns into a sticky mass. After that it is pulled and stretched time and again which also changes the color to golden brown and becomes smoother,” he says.