"divine ritual"

#13041226

30 November 2025

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.

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#13041227

30 November 2025

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.

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#13041228

30 November 2025

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.

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#13041229

30 November 2025

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.

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#13041230

30 November 2025

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.

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#13041231

30 November 2025

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.

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#12952841

5 November 2025

Hindu devotees light oil lamps on the river Ganges during Dev Deepawali in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. This religious festival occurs on the full moon of the Hindu month of Kartika and honors the deity Shiva's victory over the mythological demon Tripurasur. The celebration includes illumination, spiritual rituals, and traditional worship, reflecting faith and culture. Known as the festival of lights, this Indian festival takes place on the sacred river, observing Hinduism's lunar calendar and divine mythology.

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#12952541

5 November 2025

Hindu devotees offer prayers and light oil lamps on the banks of the river Ganges during the Hindu religious festival of Dev Deepawali in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Dev Deepawali is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartika to mark the Hindu deity Shiva's victory over the mythological demon Tripurasur.

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#12952544

5 November 2025

Hindu devotees offer prayers and light oil lamps on the banks of the river Ganges during the Hindu religious festival of Dev Deepawali in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Dev Deepawali is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartika to mark the Hindu deity Shiva's victory over the mythological demon Tripurasur.

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#12952740

5 November 2025

Hindu devotees offer prayers and light oil lamps on the banks of the river Ganges during the Hindu religious festival of Dev Deepawali in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Dev Deepawali is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartika to mark the Hindu deity Shiva's victory over the mythological demon Tripurasur.

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#12952798

5 November 2025

Hindu devotees offer prayers and light oil lamps on the banks of the river Ganges during the Hindu religious festival of Dev Deepawali in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Dev Deepawali is observed on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Kartika to mark the Hindu deity Shiva's victory over the mythological demon Tripurasur.

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#12953067

5 November 2025

A Hindu priest performs aarti prayers while celebrating the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025.

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#12953076

5 November 2025

Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025.

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#12953100

5 November 2025

Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025.

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#12953113

5 November 2025

Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025.

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#12953126

5 November 2025

Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025.

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