Kathmandu, Dec. 6 -- Before girls from the Newa community reach their puberty they are ceremonially 'married' to a holy fruit which is considered to be a symbol of Lord Vishnu.

The ritual calledIhi (orBel bibahain Nepali) takes place when the girls are between 5-9 years old, and followed byBahra (orGufa) in which the girls are again symbolically wedded to the Sun God.

These rituals are performed to protect the girls from the stigma of widowhood as in Newa belief, which is why widows in this community do not have to bear the burden of being ostracised by the communityeven if their husbands pass away later in life - they would still be married to the gods Vishnu and Sun.

DuringIhi ceremony, girls are also bonded in what is called 'meet l...