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Ihi (ईहि) or Bel Bibaha (बेल विवाह) is a mock marriage ceremony in which pre-adolescent Newar girls are ritually married to the bel fruit (bael fruit)—known in Nepali as bel (Aegle marmelos).

This ceremony usually takes place before puberty, generally between the ages of 5 and 9.
🌸 Religious and Cultural Significance
The bel fruit symbolizes Lord Vishnu, particularly the god Swayambhu Narayan or immortal divine husband.

By marrying Vishnu in this ritual, the girl is considered to have already been married once to a divine, immortal being.

Therefore, she will never become a widow, even if her future human husband passes away.
This belief ensures the spiritual and social protection of women throughout their lives.

🕉️ Symbolism
Each element in the ceremony carries symbolic meaning:
Bel fruit (bael) – represents the eternal Vishnu, symbolizing purity and immortality.
The bride (girl) – represents human life, purity, and potential fertility.

The rituals – bind her to the divine, ensuring blessings and good fortune.

👰 Ritual Process
The ceremony typically lasts two days and is conducted with great care and festivity. While details vary slightly between Newar subgroups, the common steps are:

Day 1: Preparation

Girls are bathed, purified, and dressed in traditional bridal attire—often red saris, jewelry, and tika.
Priests (Bajracharya or Achaju) perform purification rituals and Tantric pujas.
Offerings are made to the gods, ancestors, and the bel fruit.

Day 2: Marriage Ceremony

The girl sits beside the bel fruit as her “divine groom.”
A symbolic marriage ritual is performed—complete with the use of kanyadan (giving away of the bride), sindoor (vermillion), and mangalsutra (sacred necklace).
The priest chants mantras binding the girl spiritually to Vishnu.
After the ceremony, a feast follows, attended by relatives and community members.

🎊 Aftermath and Social Role

After Ihi, the girl is regarded as spiritually married.
Later in life, when she undergoes her Barha Tayegu (Gufa or Surya Darshan)—a coming-of-age ritual—she symbolically “marries” the sun god (Surya).
Only after both rituals does she become eligible for human marriage (Janku Bibaha).
The Ihi thus establishes a sacred and lifelong connection to divinity and protection.