CHITRAL: The culture of a place evolves with time according to the changing needs and revised perspectives. About five decades ago before the Afghan war, no body knew ‘tandoors’ and bakeries in Chitral. Bread was cooked in homes on a ‘tawa’ and cakes and pastries were not known for the most part of it. Slaughter houses were almost non existing and people would arrange culling of animals individually and privately.

The Afghan war brought in an influx of refugees who brought along with them many practices that proved a blessing for the people of Chitral, among them being ‘hard work’ beside what is mentioned above.

One such gift the Afghans brought with them was the humble ‘Mantu’ (dumpling), which has since gained ground and Chitralis now cook it commercially even and relish it. The mantu,  an innovation of the Mongol armies for meeting their needs in campaign travel due being healthy easy preparation and convenient carriage is now a relished dish in Central Asia, Turkey, Korea, Russia etc.

The goodness of a Mantu is that it does not require oil for cooking thus eliminating the most harmful ingredient which has become a (avoidable) necessity in our diet. Mantu is either boiled or steam cooked. The ingredients include wheat flour stuffed with mince meat, vegetables and spices.

The most attractive part of Mantu for Chitralies is it’s affordability. At a time when buying power of the masses is hitting the floor, and the general idiom of “Price is the quality” well applies here, the price of a Mantu comes as no less than a blessing. A standard size of Mantu can be bought for Rs 20/-, perhaps the cheapest healthy food one can buy in Chitral. That is why Chitral bazars are proliferated with Mantus and Mantu sellers, from restaurants to cabins to boys sitting on the road side selling Mantus is a common everyday sight. In a survey carried out by CN, There are about 40 mantu sellers in different forms from Chew bridge to Chowni bridge in Chitral town. .. CN report, 22 Nov 2024