Newar girls participating Ihi ceremony at Taha Nani, Bramaha Tole, Kathmandu. Photo by Prabin Napit

In the courtyard of a Kathmandu temple or public square, one might be struck by the sight of dozens—sometimes hundreds—of young girls seated in orderly rows. Their clothes are decorated with intricate gold ornaments, their hands and feet stained deep red with Alah (a red pigment used to decorate hands and feet, symbolizing purity and beauty in Newar culture), and their faces adorned with bright makeup that gives them an almost ceremonial radiance.

At first glance, it may resemble a wedding procession. In many ways, it is. The ritual is known as Ihi, or Bel Bibaha, a traditional Newar coming-of-age ceremony in which pre-adolescent girls symbolically marry the bel fruit (Aegle marmelos). The practice remains one of the most distinctive rites of passage within Newar society.

The bel fruit holds deep religious significance. It is closely associated with the Hindu deity Vishnu, and in some interpretations represents the god himself. Other traditions connect it with Suvarna Kumar, the golden prince. Whatever the interpretation, the ritual ensures that a girl is symbolically united with a divine and eternal husband before entering adulthood.

There is a common saying among elders: “No matter what happens later in life, you will never be truly widowed, because your first husband is immortal.” Mothers often remind their daughters that the ceremony grants them lifelong spiritual protection and dignity.

The ritual also marks a girl’s transition from childhood toward womanhood. During the ceremony, a Brahmin priest and senior female relatives guide the participants through a sequence of rites and blessings. The girls are dressed in elaborate traditional attire and treated with special honour, often described as being revered like queens or goddesses for the day.

Many participants remember the occasion not only for its religious importance but also for the excitement surrounding it—meeting relatives, wearing ceremonial jewellery, and sharing meals with family members. Yet beneath the celebration lies a deeper meaning: the recognition of a girl’s place within her family, lineage, and community.

Traditionally, Ihi takes place before a girl reaches puberty and is often followed later by another Newar rite known as Barha Tayegu (Gufa Rakhne), a seclusion ceremony that marks the onset of adolescence. Together, these rituals form an important part of Newar cultural identity and continue to be observed in Kathmandu Valley and other Newar communities today.