The most peculiar ritual followed among newar girl is ihi (also ehee). Also known as bael byah, it is a symbolic marriage with a bael (Aegle mermalous) fruit. This ritual is done among the girl between the ages of four to eleven before reaching the period of puberty, where they are married to lord Shiva that the fruit is kept in his place. Newar community has invaded outside Nepal where the traditions are somewhat lost but still it is found in every newar house that the Bael byah have been made. This customary marriage is thought to be the most holy rituals in this noble clan. With this marriage to the immortal lord the newar girl will not follow widowhood when their husband passes away. It is believed that even remarriage can be done.
At the day of ihi the place is cleaned and swabbed with cow dung and red soil to make it pure. The ihi girl is bathed and does fasting for whole daylong. The daughter of Brahmin is chosen to represent the fruit, she is called locantee. The ceremony starts in the morning with the bali (killing) of goat or a duck to lord Ganesha. Followers of Boudh newar never do the killing and the poor one can do it with fried egg. Eight different flags representing eight Devi are worshiped and immersed to the river. A pindah for a bael fruit is made where bamboo root and grass is placed. (A pindah is made of khir mixed with black teel and roundly molded) This is done to please the ancestors of both his father and mother family.
The girl is brought to the puja site where yellow thread is measured from head to feet for 108 times and thereafter a mala is made and given to the girl. Water from the thakali, a water vase is taken by the pundit and sprinkled over the ihi girl to make her pure. 84 different varieties of vegetables are placed before the girl that she needs to taste the five and remaining she will touch it and will be immersed in a holy place. This ends the end of the first day.
The next morning cutting of nails is done followed by the polishing of the nails. A piece of raw meat, little custard oil and some money are given to the nauni, the person who cuts the nail. Nini of the girl collects the nails in a copper plate, she too will be given money. Then the ihi girl is dressed in red sari or chaubandha choli as a bride.
Sicha fhangu is a custom where the Brahmin girl, the locantee act as a lord Shiva and with the stem of the bael fruit put the sindoor on the forehead of the ihi girl. The girl is offered milk, dahi, fruits and others. Kanyadaan, a hand of ihi girl is given to the hand of locantee to dedicate the girl to the lord. In return the ihi girl touches the feet of locantee and washes her feet. New clothes are offered to the ihi girl and three-fist ful rice. In some ceremony both the ihi girl and the locantee are carried by the brothers and made to move along the fire for three times. The pundit puts tika on the forehead of the ihi girl and thereafter other too joins to bless the bride girl. There is also tradition that the other family member and the relatives wash the feet of the ihi girl and drink the water of the feet. Food is offered to all the guests and the ihi ceremony end after this.
The bael fruit after the ceremony is kept safely or immersed to the river. It is considered bad luck if the fruit get damage. Since the girl have already wedded to the lord Shiva, after her marriage to another husband in her later years she shall remain unchanged even she becomes a widow. She shall always remain the wife of Lord Shiva at first instant.
An interesting tale has been found regarding the origin of the bael byah that says, it was during the time of Ranas, the dignity of the newari girls were under deep trouble. The Rana and his men used to follow the girls and look with lusty eyes. It was this reason for the newar to save their future generations they made a plan and married their children with the bael fruit. Since this fruit is considered holy and found single that they made the choice. The Ranas used to respect the married women so their inhuman attitude towards the newari girls also changed. Since marrying with a fruit saved the newari community for its existence the practice is still prevalent.
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