By Nati Babu Bhatta, COLORADO:- The Nepali community in Colorado has successfully conducted the fourth Ihi (Bel Bibaha) in accordance with Newari cultural traditions and rituals.
Organized by Newa Khala: Colorado, the fourth Ihi (Bel Bibaha) ceremony was successfully conducted in accordance with traditional rituals, in the presence of the organization’s executive committee members, volunteers, and the families of the girls participating in the ceremony.
Bhushan Lal Shrestha, President of Newa Khala Colorado, stated that local Newa girls—Joya Shrestha Bantawa, Praneha Shrestha, and Gurans Shrestha—benefited from this ritual during the program successfully conducted by Guru Birendra Rajopadhyaya and Guruma Pratibha Sharma.
According to Newar Sanatan religious scriptures, Ihi (Bel Bibaha) is a sacred ritual of the Newar community in which a symbolic marriage is performed between a pre-pubescent girl (typically aged 5 to 9) and Lord Vishnu—represented by a gold image and a Bel fruit. There is a scriptural belief that this eternal spiritual marriage ensures the girl will never become a widow during her lifetime.
Scriptures do not prescribe that Newar women must observe a fast to pray for good fortune. For this reason, some Newar women do not observe the Teej fast, even though they are Sanatan Hindus.
As the population density of the Newa community in Colorado has grown, ‘Newa Khala’—formally established 16 years ago—has been educating the new generation about Newari language and culture, while fostering their preservation and identity.
