Dear Community Members, Jwajalapa – Namaskar,

Nepa Pasa Pucha Amerikaye (NPPA) is pleased to announce that the Twelfth IHI ceremony will be performed on Saturday, April 25, 2020 (शनिवा:, बछलाथ्व द्वितिया, ११४0 – शनिवार , बैशाख १३, २०७७) at the following venue/address:

            Hare Krishna Temple

           10310 Oaklyn Drive Potomac, MD 2085

IHI is the most inevitable ritual ceremony in Newah Society to retreat Newah girls at the age of 5-11 years. IHI stands for a certain time and age. NPPA is delighted to reiterate that parents of several non-Newah girls participated in previous IHI ceremonies and NPPA would like to renew the gratitude to them. NPPA always welcomes such diversity.

 

One of NPPA’s goals is to preserve Newah culture. In order to achieve this goal, NPPA requests continued support from the community members like you. NPPA appreciates and would like to thank you again for your participation in the earlier IHI ceremonies to make them great success. We request all of you to spread the word among fellow community members about the upcoming IHI ceremony. It is our culture and we all must strive to preserve it.

According to the religious and astrological belief, IHI is an act of giving a virgin in marriage, but it is not a physical wedding. The main objects at this ceremony – provided separately to each girl – are the Bya (Bel in Nepali, binomial name – Aegle marmelos) which is the fruit of Bya plant and a golden image (or flat piece of gold with an image engraved on it or golden object). The Bya fruit represents Lord Shiva and the golden image represents Lord Vishnu/Narayana, also known as Subarna Kumar. At the exact astrological time, called out by a priest, the father hands-over his daughter to the god as manifested by pressing her thumb against the golden image. The image is held against the Bya, representing Lord Shiva as the witness to the marriage. This occasion, therefore, is popularly known as IHI (misinterpreted as Bel-Bibah).

इहिको परिभाषा: उचित समयमा पुरोहितले साईत मिलाएर कन्याहरुका लागि सम्पन्न गरिने यस विशेष बिधिलाई इहि भनिन्छ । बेल फललाई नेपाल भाषामा “ब्या” भनिन्छ र यस्को बाइनोमियल नाम (binomial name) Aegle Marmelos (एगल मार्मलस्) हो । हिन्दू धर्ममा “ब्या” फललाई भगवान शिवको प्रतिक मानिन्छ । इहि प्रकृयामा कन्यालाई भगवान बिष्णुको अवतार सुवर्णकुमारको प्रतिक मानी सुनमा कुँदिएको बिष्णु भगवान वा कुनै स्वर्ण वस्तुलाई कन्यादान गरिन्छ । यस अवसरमा भगवान शिव रुपी “ब्या” फल साक्षीको रुपमा उपस्थिती रहन्छ । तसर्थ, इहि प्रकृयालाई अन्यथा रुपमा अपभ्रम्सित नगरिदिनु हुन सादर अनुरोध छ । साथै, इहिको अवसरमा भगवान विष्णुलाई कन्यादान दिई सकेकोले, इहि गरेका महिलाहरु कहिल्यै पनि बिधवा नहुने धारणा छ ।

The principle behind this traditional practice is that a married lady should not be considered “widow” even after her husband’s demise, because she was married to Lord Subarna Kumar at her pre-pubescent age. It is performed to prevent widowhood of Newah women. Thus, IHI ritual is the most important ongoing ritual prevalent in Newah culture.

NPPA is honored and proud that IHI ceremony has attracted significant number of non-Newah participants of Nepali origin in the past and will continue to welcome such participation in the future with open heart.

Parents with eligible daughter(s), who are interested to participate in this traditional ceremony, please contact any of the following NPPA Executive Committee members for registration.

Mrs. Shanti Shrestha NPPA IHI Coordinator 301-385-2761 [email protected]

O R

Mr. Manohar Shrestha NPPA Vice President 703-599-0469 [email protected]

NPPA will arrange all the necessary logistics, which includes complete Pooja materials, Shirbindi and Tikha Maa (ornament) rental, Moo Dakshina to the Priest, video and photos in CD to each participant, food for five guests, and venue rental.

Subhay, Dhanyabad,

NPPA Executive Committee

नेपा: पासा पुच: अमेरिकाय्