What is Bel Bibaha?
Three times a daughter of a Newar clan is wedded. It is not good to marry the groom (guy) three times. The first marriage occurs before menstruation, with Suvarna Kumar, Lord Vishnu's emblem.
This is how the Newar language refers to it. Following that is bara: tayegu (cave keeping). In this method, one marries Suryadarshan, i.e. Surya, and then matches the groom for the third time (male).
Image Cr: The Himalayan Times
Caption: Bel Bibaha ceremony
However, some argue that Surya Darshan is not a marriage because Surya Puja and Darshan are done, and Kanyadan is not. Even if her spouse dies after being married to Suvarna Kumar before menstruation, the Newar tribe believes that a Newar lady should not live a colourless or widowed existence. If the Newar girl isn't married, there's a case to be made that she's wedded to Suvarna Kumar for psychological reasons.
'This is more essential in Newar society,' Janaklal Sharma argues in his book 'Our Society: A Study.' This is a type of union. Except for the Newar, this is not the case in other Nepalese societies. This translates to "marriage." 'This essentially means marriage,' explains Nagendra Sharma in his Nepali Janajivan.' Suvarna Kumar has something to do with a Newar girl.
Though not a secondary marriage, the Newarns' marriage to their husbands appears a social contract. As a result, Newarni, who wishes to remarry, has the conventional freedom to do so. It has been construed as a marriage in the 'Newar-Nepali-English Dictionary' produced by Nepal Pragya-Pratishthan so that one does not have to spend their life as a widow. This is one of the Newar community's most important rites.
It is usual for a virgin to do this at the festival of Akshaya Tritiya, especially according to Nepal Samvat (falling in April). It is possible to do it at various times, depending on the place. This procedure usually takes two days to complete. The culture varies by location, and in some instances, this can be completed in a single day. This task is thought to be best accomplished day by day.
On the days of Akshay Tritiya, Shri Panchami, and Vivah Panchami, it is also believed that the female does not need to look at the location.
This is done before menstruation, particularly in girls aged 5, 7, 9, and 11.
Legend Behind Bel Bibaha
There is no recorded documentation to tell us as to how or when this practice occurred. This culture, however, is said to have begun during the Lichhavi period. Mother Parvati, who was lucky to have Lord Shiva as her spouse under the influence of Swasthani Vrata, requests a bridegroom so that her mother's disciple may have the same opportunity as her.
Image Cr: Nepali Times
Caption: The ceremony of Bel Bibaha
Lord Shiva then married Suvarna Kumar (Hiranya Garbha), Lord Vishnu's emblem, in his virginity and bestowed upon him the gift of eternal happiness. The Newars of Nepal Mandal have followed Lord Shiva's message from that time. Since then, virgins have been married with the sign of Lord Shiva, the bell, as a symbol of the future bridegroom, and with the character of Lord Vishnu, Suvarna Kumar, as a symbol of the prospective bridegroom (Hiranya Garbha).
This is what the Newars referred to as a marriage over time. The word ehipa: (marriage) is derived from this. As a sign of the upcoming bridegroom's marriage, Bell was married. Some experts, however, argue that this does not imply bell marriage. The rite of retaining the cave (sun marriage) began simultaneously as this rite. It was once common to lock a virgin in a dark room for 12 days without seeing the sun's face.
While this has made life simpler for parents, both financially and socially, it appears that the Ba'athist Taegu culture has been diminished, which is a cause for concern. There are sixteen rites, according to Sanatan Hindu rites. Newars, while being Hindus, have solely performed Dashakarma ceremonies. Out of the ten karma rites, this is conducted for virgins.
The ehi and bara: tayegu of virgins are used the same way as a man's chuda karma. Ehi and Bara: Tayegu is based on a hybrid Hindu and Buddhist ceremony, while Chuda Karma is related to Hindu traditions. Vermilion may be worn on the seam by the girl who has already completed this task. As a result, seeing an unmarried Newar girl dressed in vermilion is not surprising.
There is no need for decoration of the wedding pavilion or the giving of Kanyadan in this marriage of a Newar girl. Of course, no Havan Yajna is required because Kanyadan can be done in this manner. As a result, a Newar girl's marriage was kept secret even if it was an arranged marriage yesterday. It was common for several members of the bridegroom's family to visit the bride's home late at night and return her.
The bridegroom didn't need to visit the bride's home in such a marriage. Nowadays, it is usually in the Newar community to accompany the bride and groom to the bride's house, play the jhyajinjai baja, build a mandapa, and perform the havan yajna. This is not the culture of the Newars. Even when feasts, the Newars' ancient culture was to sit and eat in a line in their backyards.
Method Of Bel Bibaha
There are caste and location-based variances in approach and process even within Newar. Within the Kathmandu Valley, the approach and procedure change depending on the castes and tolls within the Newar community. The Ehima, organized cooperatively beyond the valley, exemplifies this contrast. Furthermore, modernity has infiltrated the international collective spirit.
This practice, which is done in groups, usually takes two days, although it may be done at home in one day. The technique varies depending on the region and can be longer or quicker. There could be an alternative to the one described here.
Duso-Dhus(first day)
According to a Kathmandu tradition, the site is built by first revealing the virgin's identity. On the first day, all household members are washed, and the house is cleansed, according to Saita. Duso-Dhusah or Purvang is the name given to this day. This yajna begins on this day with Ganesha, Agam Devata, Kuladevata, and other deities being worshipped according to their unique traditions.
Beautiful girl in Bel Bibaha
The girl's fingernails and toenails are chopped off on this day. Without allowing the chopped nails to fall to the ground, the girl's aunt places them on a plate of hashish. It is typical for the bride to give her aunt a bundle of garments or other presents on this occasion. Similarly, Alha (a form of crimson dye) is put to a virgin's legs up to half a foot on both legs.
The priest, too, prepares the mandapa for this. The priest worships numerous deities, including Ganesh and Kshatrapal, as symbols while holding an urn. Kumha's guava (lump of thread), kanya (bronze), jyana: lapte (leaf of a non-flowering plant), sukhunya (sidra), knife, gwagu gwai (whole betel nut), halu (turmeric), and other items should be maintained in adoration. Paying respect to the father is one of the day's essential functions. It is traditional in Shraddha for the eldest woman without a mother to worship.
The other girls participating are also set if this is the leading group. The incense is then burned. The virgin is immunized three times, once in the name of the house's original deity and once in the name of the house's original deity. In front of Thaibhu, the sun god Deep Bali is worshipped. Following the pooja, Thaibhu Nakegu, or feeding, takes place. The lamp is lit after the meal, and the virgin is made to honour and is known as Vayankegu (to be thrown in the bath). The first day's rites are done in this manner.
Second Day
The main procedure is finished on the second day. First and foremost, the bride is washed and decked in the manner of a bride. After that, vermilion is placed on the virgin's stitches and wrapped in ehiparsi (a type of sari). Putting a sari on a girl gives her a girl's appearance. The virgin is allowed to worship after the priest performs the yajna in the mandapa.
Image Cr: My Republica
Caption: Bel Bibaha
The bride's father then worships Shiva, the bell, and Vishnu on a piece of raw gold with water, incense, inviolability, flowers, and other worship materials while holding the bride in his arms. The virgin offers agharya to Suvarna Kumar at Kisali (when the promised money and betel nut will be delivered). Suvarna Kumar is said to have offered gold as Dakshina.
The maiden is forced to wear a hipsi, with a salapa (shown clay plate) in front of her and the bell in her hand. Jwalanhayak (a specific type of mirror) and Sinhamu are recommended for Virgo (vaccinator). Lava, flowers, and abir are used to anoint the maiden. In front of the bell, the father takes the bride in his arms and worships her to symbolise the future bridegroom's gift to Suvarna Kumar.
Kanya's father offers Dakshina according to the bunch after Kanyadan. The priest takes the maiden's bell in both hands, circumambulates the mandapa from the manyajan's perspective, and places her back in her place. After the mandapa parikrama, it is traditional to offer alms. This is referred to as baharah chukegu (queuing for begging). The girl is given suitable luck trinkets on this occasion.
According to Newari tradition, Kanya is also taught to conduct housework by grinding siloto, beating dhinki, beating chiura, and sifting nanglo. Following home tasks, worshippers worship all of the deities and conduct Tika and Danadakshina. The same ceremony is completed after taking the water and offerings from the urn and employing the flame from the devotees.
Thaibhu is only fed this done virgin. A feast is also customarily attended by relatives, neighbours, and friends. It is customary for the house's eldest woman to worship the bride and bring her home with a set of clothing and offerings in her right hand in front of Pikhalkhu Dya (Kumar) in front of the main door. This approach is akin to the Newar community's method of sending brides.
Although this is the only Newar rite, some Newar castes and sub-castes do not practice Shahi (Khadgi), Kapali (Jogi, Darshandhari), Dyaula (Pode), and other rituals. However, they have begun to adopt the same culture in recent years.
