Jhilinga is a traditional Nepalese food specially popular during festivals. Jhilinga is super crunchy, and is favored by people of all age groups. It is closely associated with people of different ethnicity like the Gurungs, Newars, Magars, Brahmins. Popularity of Jhilinga still largely exists in villages and towns of Nepal. The process of making Jhilinga is really simple requiring minimal ingredients. However, a good set of skilled hands is required to craft the pieces into proper circles.
The history of Jhilinga is disputed. The dish is characterized by its frugality, reflecting agricultural hardship during ancient times. So it certainly was invented a long probably in villages across Nepal. Jhilinga is consumed largely during festivals, weddings and a variety of ceremonies. It is also associated with rituals and therefor has a significant cultural significance. From ancient times to even today, Jhilinga is used as Shagun (present) i.e. an offering taken with you when you visit guests or relatives.