Editorial photo #13041230 Religion and Belief

Newa Community Girls Take Part In The Traditional Bel Bibaha Ceremony In Lalitpur, Nepal

Girls from the Newa community take part in the Bel Bibaha ceremony, in which they are symbolically married to a bael fruit (wood apple), at Banglamukhi Temple in Lalitpur, Nepal, on November 29, 2025. The ritual is performed for girls aged between 5 and 9 years, typically before they reach puberty. The ceremony, also called the Ihi ceremony, is rooted in Hindu and Tantric traditions and serves to protect girls from social stigma, especially widowhood. The fruit symbolizes the god Vishnu, ensuring the girl is symbolically married to a divine entity for life. (Photo by Ambir Tolang/NurPhoto)

Photo details

Photo ID: #13041230
Date taken: 29 November 2025
Location: —
Photographer: Ambir Tolang/NurPhoto
Category: Religion and Belief

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