Nepali, Newar wedding rituals Megha Vaidya Surrounded by photo albums and inspired by much new information, Ellen and I listened to the beautiful story of Megha Vaidya, a Nepali Newar woman. In our lovely gathering we heard everything about Newar wedding rituals in Nepal. Newar girls marry three times. The first time they marry to a fruit, the second time to the sun and the third time, yes of course, to a person. These marriages have nothing to do with child marriages, but are highly spiritual sacred rituals that are centuries old. Are you ready for another beautiful story? Here we go!
Marriage to the bael fruit
wanted to exchange her bael
Among the traditions for Newar
fruit with mine, because mine
girls,
ceremonial
had fewer wrinkles than hers! But
wedding ritual is Ihi/Ehee/Bael
according to the tradition we are
Bibaha. In this ceremony the
not allowed to swop our fruits.”
girl is married to the bael fruit
After the group ceremony, on
(wood apple), which is a symbol
the second day, the girls attend
of god Vishnu, to ensure the girl
a more family-based ritual at
becomes and remains fertile. The
home.
In the country with the world’s
ritual marks a certain period in
home, the eldest female member
highest mountains, where more
the girl’s life. It is conducted on
conducts some rituals at the
than 125 ethnic groups live
the basis of the lunar calendar
entrance of the house. At home,
together and 123 languages are
and can only be organized at
the girls sit down in a room and
spoken, the Newar is an ethnic
specific times and dates of the
go through the remaining rituals
group that follows the Hindu
year. When Megha thinks back to
to complete the ceremony. The
or Buddhism religion. However,
those days, she remembers her
rice and fruits served from a
they share a common language
five-year-old self together with
brass bowl is a holy ritual as
known as ‘Nepal Bhasa’ and
her nine-year-old sister and a lot
well. And of course, they receive
have a beautiful writing system,
of other girls.
presents
the
first
Ranjana Lipi as a standard Nepali
Before
from
entering
their
their
parents
and relatives.
calligraphic script. When you
The girls are dressed in very
visit Newar families, you are
colorful clothes and the whole
Marriage to the Sun
absolutely sure there will be
ceremony takes two days. In the
At the age of seven Megha was
some kind of celebration. Newars
ceremony the girls are married
spiritually married to God Sun.
are
to a golden statue of Vishnu
This ritual is mostly held in
where
and the bael fruit is the witness.
wintertime, is highly spiritual
gods and goddesses are being
They say that the shape of the
and protects the girls from bad
worshipped
fruit resembles the man you
people and bad omens. This
will marry. Megha: “My sister
ritual is known as Bahra Teygu/
famous
festivals
for
and
year-round
cuisines
and/or
events are depicted.
historical
