Kathmandu, Nepal - Kingdom of
NEWAR TRIBAL GIRLS OF NEPAL ARRIVE FOR THEIR "FIRST MARRIAGE" IN KATHMANDU.
Wearing traditional dresses, Nepalese Rashmi Manandhar (L), Oashin Maharjan (C) and Shriya Shretha arrives for their "first marriage" ceremony in Kathmandu, February 17, 2004. Newar tribal girls are married off to their God Narayan before their puberty and to God Suryanarayan (sun) before their real life marriage. It is believed the gods protect when they go through these religious and traditional ceremonies. The Newar people are the indigenous inhabitants in Kathmandu. REUTERS/Gopal Chitrakar GC/BM/DL