A Newar girl takes part in a ritual during an Ihi ceremony in Kathmandu
A Newar girl takes part in a ritual during an Ihi ceremony in Kathmandu November 20, 2009. Girls aged odd years before puberty are married to Bel, the fruit of an wood-apple tree in the ceremony. Ihi is a two-day ceremony which begins with purification rituals and ends with "Kanyadan" (giving away the virgin) of the girl by her father. In this way, a Newar girl is married thrice in her life first with a wood apple tree fruit. A second time with the sun and finally with a human later in life. REUTERS/Gopal Chitrakar (NEPAL SOCIETY IMAGES OF THE DAY)