Sumelek, an indispensable part of Uzbek culture, stands out as the sweet symbol of Nowruz Holiday. Sumelek, made from sprouted wheat and prepared in a ritual-filled process that lasts approximately 24 hours, is prepared with great enthusiasm by the Uzbek people to celebrate the arrival of spring.
This delicious dessert not only sweetens the palate, but is filled with messages of resilience, hope and togetherness. Sumelek continues to be kept alive as a symbol of Uzbekistan’s rich cultural heritage, with the legends told about its origin and the beliefs among the people.
Sumelek Dessert, the Symbol of Newroz Festival
Samanu, Uğut Tatlısı or Samanak, Sumalak/Sumalyak, Sümölök, Sümölöt, both in Turks and in many other languages. Central Asia and the Middle East in society It is a kind of dessert cooked on Newroz Day. In some regions, it is prepared as pudding, and in some places, it is prepared as halva. in Azerbaijan “Semeni Halva” It is known as.
This dish, which is widely cooked among Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Karakalpak, Tatar, Kazakh, Uyghur, Tajik and Afghan Turks, is a common Nevruz tradition of Turkestan Turks. Although there are regional differences, the cooking method of sumec is generally the same.
The cooking and mass distribution is managed by a woman with children, and women sing and dance around the cauldron. On Nevruz night, some of the dessert is left in the water. a healing one heavenly food It is believed to be.
Generally Nowruz HolidayThis dessert, prepared after , is not made at other times. In Uzbekistan, with the arrival of spring, sumelek dessert is prepared all over the country and served to neighbors. It takes 24 hours to prepare this dessert, which is made by constantly stirring in large cauldrons and is believed to grant wishes.
Nowruz HolidayIt has been celebrated by the people of Central Asia for centuries and is considered the herald of spring. It is celebrated with various events throughout the month of March in Uzbekistan. Although official celebrations take place on March 21, public celebrations continue throughout the month. Nevruz is a holiday that brings people together and strengthens unity. During this period, people living in the neighborhoods come together and prepare Sumelek dessert along with Nevruz dishes “kök samsa”, “halim” and Uzbek pilaf.
During Nevruz festivals held in Uzbek neighborhoods, neighborhood residents come together and prepare holiday meals after the Nevruz prayer and bake sumelek dessert throughout the day. The dessert is cooked for about 24 hours, stirring constantly, and a few small stones or walnuts are thrown in to prevent the bottom from burning. During the preparation that lasts throughout the night, festivities continue, songs are sung and folk dances are played.
How to Prepare Sumelek Dessert?
Sumelek dessert, which is among the special dishes for Nevruz, is a special dish for the Uzbek people. symbol of Nowruz It is considered to be a natural stone and its construction involves various rituals.
First, wheat is germinated Sprinkle with water and spread on a board for 4-5 days. After the grass grows, the wheat is ground in a meat grinder and mixed with water to remove its starchy liquid. Oil is added to large cauldrons and then water with starch obtained from wheat is added and mixed continuously for 16-18 hours. To prevent the bottom of the cauldron containing the dessert from burning, a few walnuts or stones are thrown into it.
While the Sumelek is being mixed, each person stirring the cauldron makes a wish and prays. In Uzbeks, It is believed that wishes and prayers made while mixing sumelek will be accepted..
The preparation process takes approximately 24 hours. After 16-18 hours of mixing, the dessert is left to infuse with the lid closed for 5-6 hours. Ready-made sumelek is seen as a panacea, a cure for diseases and a source of strength among Uzbeks.
Sumelek is distributed first to the elderly and sick of the neighborhood, and then to all residents. It is believed that the wish or prayer of the person whose bowl comes out with a walnut or stone is accepted.
Rumors about the Origin of Sumelek Dessert
There are various rumors about the origin of the “sumelek” dessert among Uzbeks and it is believed that this dessert was prepared by 30 angels.
According to a rumor, a mother who could not find food at home in the spring boiled the sprouted wheat she found at home with water to feed her starving twin children. He throws a handful of stones into the cauldron to make his children believe that there is something in the cauldron and to make a sound while it boils. Late at night, while trying to put his children to sleep, he falls asleep himself.
When you wake up in the morning, beautiful smells come from the cauldron. According to the rumor, 30 angels descend from the sky at night and stir the cauldron until the morning, and “sumelek” comes out. This is where the name “sumelek”, meaning 30 angels in Persian, comes from. This rumor has been passed down from generation to generation in Uzbekistan, and families with twin children make sumelek at home and distribute it to their relatives and neighbors.
According to another rumor, food runs out in a castle besieged by the enemy. As a last resort, the people of the castle satisfy their hunger by boiling the germinated wheat left at the bottom of the sacks in the warehouses. The people, empowered by this food, defeated the enemy and thus the tradition of making sumelek was born.
Both narrations emphasize that sumelek represents resilience and hope in the face of difficulties, and it has an important place in the cultural memory of the Uzbek people.
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