These are pictures taken during Ihi. Ihi is a tradition followed by Newar caste of Nepali people. It is also described as marriage ceremony of Newari girl in which pre-adolescent girls are "married" to Bel (wood apple ) fruit which is symbol of lord vishnu ensuring that the girl becomes and remains fertile.
It is believed that if the girl's husband dies later in her life she is not considered widow because she is married to lord Vishnu and so already has a husband who is still alive .
This ritual has been in practice since hundreds of years. It is very sacred ritual and a real kanyaadaan as a virgin girl is handed over to the God. Actually, in Ihi girl is married to a golden statue of lord Vishnu known as Suvarna Kumar and Bel fruit is given as its witness. As bel fruit (wood apple) has a peculiar quality of not getting rotten and remaining fresh forever, it is sometimes considered as Divya Purusha (divine male) or incarnation of the god.
