नेपा: पासा पुच: अमेरिकाय्या ग्वसा:लय् १२ क्व:गु इहि ज्याझ्व: सनिवार, ११४२ बछलाथ्व षष्ठी कुन्हु सकसिया ग्वाहालिं सुथांलाक्क क्वचाल। थुगुसिया इहिलय् अमेरिकाया ८ गू राज्यया २७ म्ह कन्यातय्सं ब्वति काल।
Nepa Pasa Pucha Amerikaye (NPPA) successfully organized the 12th IHI Ceremony on Saturday, May 7, 2022 (सनिवार, ११४२ बछलाथ्व षष्ठी – शनिवार, बैशाख २४, २०७९), at the Hare Krishna Temple in Potomac, Maryland. IHI is a unique and very important Newah cultural tradition where pre-adolescent girls are symbolically married to Subarna Kumar, a representation of Lord Vishnu. NPPA organizes IHI ceremony every year to accommodate the growing demand of its community members. However, due to pandemic, IHI was not organized in 2020 and 2021. This year, 27 Kanyas from eight States participated in the IHI ceremony.
The ceremony started with a commencement Pooja, which was presided by Thakali (senior member of the community) Mr. Ram Malakar. It was followed by “Laskus”, – a traditional welcoming of 27 Kanyas to the Pooja Manda, amidst traditional “Dhimey” played by Mr. Budhendra Joshee and Mr. Buddha Maharjan. The “Laskus” team consisted of Mrs. Deepa Rajkarnikar, Mrs. Richal Shrestha, Mrs. Roshani Gorkhali, Mrs. Chandani Shrestha, Mrs. Banita Tamot, Ms. Shilu Maharjan, Ms. Kerisha Singh, Mrs. Amrita Maharjan, Miss Megha Chitrakar, Mrs. Ramita Maharjan, Ms. Kriti Shrestha, Mrs. Niti Mathema, Mrs. Rita Singh, Mrs. Shanti Shrestha, and Mrs. Anjaly Shrestha.
After Laskus, NPPA President Mr. Manohar Shrestha welcomed the participating Kanyas, their parents, and guests, and highlighted the importance of IHI ceremony in Newah culture and community. He stated that NPPA is the pioneer Newah organization in the US that is actively involved in preserving and promoting important Newah cultural and ritual practices.
Newah Priest Basav Rajopadhyay performed various rituals, such as Purification Pooja, Manda Pooja, Sindhurohan, Kanya Dan, Manda Parikrama, Kumar Pooja, Kumari Pooja, Bahra chhuyegu, Thaye bhu, Avishek, Ashirbad, and Jal Prasad in an orderly manner.
The following Kanyas participated in this year’s IHI Ceremony:
Four pairs of Naaya and Naki (नायः व नकिं – male and female leaders) – Mr. Manohar & Mrs. Anjaly Shrestha, Mr. Pancha & Mrs. Shanti Shrestha, Mr. Binesh & Mrs. Ramita Maharjan, and Mr. Shambhu Sainju & Mrs. Niti Mathema facilitated the ritual processes under the direction of the Priest. In the ceremony, Master Jayce Bhadel and Miss Ridisha Rajbhandari were symbolized as Kumar and Kumari, respectively.
The guests present at the ceremony were excited and delighted to witness a variety of tantrik rituals performed by the Priest. NPPA EC members, members, and volunteers Mr. Ram Malakar, Mrs. Bisnu Malakar, Mr. Bhagat Lal Shrestha, Mrs. Meera Shrestha, Mr. Laxman Pradhan, Mrs. Sarita Pradhan, Mr. Krishna Prajapati, Mrs. Saroj Prajapati, Mr. Raju Joshee, Mrs. Shilu Joshee, Mrs. Ganga Maharjan, Mr. Allan Maharjan, Mr. Suman Tuladhar, Mr. Samip Man Shrestha, Mrs. Anju Udas, Dr. Raju Tamot, Mr. Prashanta Singh, Mr. Jayaswor Shrestha, Mrs. Rekha Shrestha, Mr. Prabin Tamrakar, Mr. Anugh Shrestha, Mrs. Sukla Devi Shrestha, Mrs. Magan Shrestha, Mrs. Ranjita Shrestha, Mr. Durga Lal Shrestha, Mrs. Amita Shrestha, and several volunteers helped the participants and guests during the IHI ceremony.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, NPPA President Mr. Manohar Shrestha expressed NPPA’s sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the parents for giving NPPA the opportunity to conduct the IHI ceremony for their daughters. He also thanked the participating Kanyas, guests, volunteers, drinks and food contributors, media, the Hare Krishna Temple, and it’s Priest Mr. Laxman Bhandari for their support and encouragement.
Mr. Shrestha presented Certificates to all the participating IHI Kanyas. He thanked the Priest Mr. Basav Rajopadhyay for skillfully performing the IHI Ceremony and explaining the purposes of the rituals. Mr. Shrestha appreciated the photography & videography services of Mr. Bal Singh. He also thanked and credited the success of the event to all the NPPA Executive Committee members, Advisers, as well as its Patrons and Life Members.
NPPA organizes various community events in the metropolitan Washington DC area throughout the year. Please mark your calendars for the upcoming NPPA events:
Saturday, June 25, 2022………… Fifth Youth Networking & Motivation Event (Location: TBD)
Saturday, August 13, 2022…….. सा पारु Sa Paru and Annual Summer Picnic (FREE ADMISSION)
At Wheaton Regional Park, MD
Saturday, November 5, 2022….. Nepal Sambat 1143 & NPPA’s 31st Anniversary Celebration
After the conclusion of the IHI ceremony, NPPA members and volunteers served food to all the participants and guests.
For more information please feel free to contact NPPA President Mr. Manohar Shrestha ([email protected]) or visit www.nppa-usa.org.
इहिको अर्थ र ब्याख्या: नेपाल भाषाको शब्द “इहि” को अर्थ समय हो । 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) एगल मार्मलस् (Aegle Marmelos)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 ।
IHI’s Meaning and explanation: The Nepal Bhasha word “IHI” means time. IHI is a unique and very important Newah cultural tradition where pre-adolescent girls are symbolically married to Subarna Kumar, a representation of Lord Vishnu. According to religious and astrological beliefs, IHI is an act of giving a virgin in marriage. However, it is not a physical wedding. The main symbols at the wedding – provided separately for each girl – are the bya (in Nepali, bel) which is the fruit of the Bel plant (binomial name – Aegle marmelos), and a golden image (or flat piece of gold with an image of Subarna Kumar engraved on it). The bya fruit represents Lord Shiva and the golden image represents Lord Vishnu/Narayana, also called Subarna Kumar. At the exact astrological time determined by the officiating priest, the father offers his daughter to the god. The act of giving a virgin in marriage is manifested by pressing her thumb against the golden image. The image is held against the bya, and this represents Lord Shiva serving as the witness to the marriage. This ceremony is popularly known as IHI (misinterpreted as Bel-bibah). The principle behind this traditional practice is that the girl having been married with a Subarna Kumar should her husband be deceased, she would not be considered “widowed” because she was already married to Lord Subarna Kumar at her prepubescent age. It is performed to protect Newah women from widowhood and is an important ritual in Newah culture.
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