"Tradition."

#13175584

10 January 2026

Packaged molasses are pictured at a local factory on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. The aroma of boiling stacks of sugar lumps fills the air around Tokha on the outskirts of Kathmandu, which is popular for first-class molasses that has high demand in the market. Tokha, an ancient settlement inside the Kathmandu Valley, is believed to have existed since the Malla Period, long before the unification of Nepal by Prithivi Narayan Shah, and currently has around 15 home-based molasses-making industries. The word ''Tokha'' derives from the Newari word ''Tyokha,'' meaning sweet, and molasses have been the main produce of this place for centuries. As many as 1,100 grams of sugar lumps, 'Bheli,' are needed to prepare one kilogram of molasses, and producers can only make a profit of Rs 15-20 through sales. There is no official statistic or data about the consumption and production of molasses, nor the number of people engaged in this business.

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#13175585

10 January 2026

Packaged molasses are pictured at a local factory on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. The aroma of boiling stacks of sugar lumps fills the air around Tokha on the outskirts of Kathmandu, which is popular for first-class molasses that has high demand in the market. Tokha, an ancient settlement inside the Kathmandu Valley, is believed to have existed since the Malla Period, long before the unification of Nepal by Prithivi Narayan Shah, and currently has around 15 home-based molasses-making industries. The word ''Tokha'' derives from the Newari word ''Tyokha,'' meaning sweet, and molasses have been the main produce of this place for centuries. As many as 1,100 grams of sugar lumps, 'Bheli,' are needed to prepare one kilogram of molasses, and producers can only make a profit of Rs 15-20 through sales. There is no official statistic or data about the consumption and production of molasses, nor the number of people engaged in this business.

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Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13174989

10 January 2026

A Nepali worker arranges freshly made molasses before packing it inside a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

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#13174990

10 January 2026

A Nepali worker arranges freshly made molasses before packing it inside a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

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#13174991

10 January 2026

A Nepali worker arranges freshly made molasses before packing it inside a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

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Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
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#13174979

10 January 2026

Sugar lumps boil to prepare molasses in a container at a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

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Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
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#13174980

10 January 2026

Sugar lumps boil to prepare molasses in a container at a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

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Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13174981

10 January 2026

Sugar lumps boil to prepare molasses in a container at a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

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Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
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#13174982

10 January 2026

Sugar lumps boil to prepare molasses in a container at a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13174983

10 January 2026

Sugar lumps boil to prepare molasses in a container at a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

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Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
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#13174984

10 January 2026

Freshly made molasses Chaku is prepared before packing inside a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13174985

10 January 2026

Freshly made molasses Chaku is prepared before packing inside a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

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Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
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#13174986

10 January 2026

Freshly made molasses Chaku is prepared before packing inside a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
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#13174987

10 January 2026

Freshly made molasses Chaku is prepared before packing inside a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
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#13174988

10 January 2026

Freshly made molasses Chaku is prepared before packing inside a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.

#13174992

10 January 2026

A Nepali worker arranges freshly made molasses before packing it inside a factory in Tokha, Nepal, on January 10, 2026. Molasses Chaku is usually prepared and consumed during the Maghe Sankranti Festival. Chaku is a confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee, and nuts, which holds significance on Maghe Sankranti Festival.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.