Making Korean songpyeon in Delhi; ‘it’s similar to gujiya’

With staff dressed in hanboks, Korea’s traditional attire, and a chef who explained the significance of Chuseok (the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving), students at the Korean Cultural Centre made songpyeon – traditional Korean half-moon-shaped rice cakes prepared during Chuseok.

Relevance of songpyeon and Chuseok
Songpyeon is made by cutting dough into appropriate sizes, adding fillings that can be made from red bean paste, toasted sesame seeds, and chestnuts. “After this, the dough is moulded into a half-moon shape, which is quite similar to the shape of a gujiya,” shared a statement from the cultural centre.

Chuseok celebrates the end of the farming season, and is marked by offering songpyeon made from new rice and fresh fruits. There is a tradition of looking at the full moon of the year on a dark night and making a wish with family members.

‘Songpyeon is similar to gujiya’
After conducting a gujiya making workshop with the Indian and Korean staff on Holi, the songpyeon making workshop highlighted the importance of Chuseok. It celebrates the end of the farming season and is marked by families coming together who make songpyeon with the first rice of the season and pay respects to ancestors.

“Songpyeon is similar to gujiya. The only difference is that you fry gujiya but we steam songpyeon. You’ll still see grandmothers who make songpyeon at home during this time. I also had not made it in a long time so it was interesting to make it with the students here in India,” shared chef Sumi Woo, who conducted the workshop.

Pics: Lokesh Kashyap

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