In the Newar community, there is a
unique tradition of marrying their girl
child to the bel fruit. One must be
familiar with the term bel bibaha. The
marriage between a virgin Newari girl
and bel fruit is held before the girl
attains puberty. This ensures that the
girl acquires active and healthy reproductive
powers.
Here the bel fruit is the bridegroom,
representative of the eternal bachelor
(Lord Kumar, son of Lord Shiva ). In
this marriage ceremony, known as Ihi
in Newari, the bel fruit must look rich
and ripe and must not be damaged in
any kind. If by chance the fruit turns
out to be a damaged one, it is believed
that the girl or the bride will be destined
to
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