Ihi

Ihi (Nepal Bhasa: ईही), also spelled as Ehee, is a ceremony performed by the Newar people of Nepal in which age 1,3,5,7 or 9 girls are ceremonially "married" to a bael fruit which is considered a symbol of either the Hindu deity Vishnu or the Buddha.

This was basically done to dodge the tradition of 'Sati Pratha', where after the husband dies, the widow sacrifices herself in the burning fire.

It is a highly sacred ritual and a real kanyaadaan as a virgin girl is handed over to God.

Actually, during the Ihi ceremony 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 rotting and remaining fresh forever, it is sometimes considered as Divya Purusha (divine male) or incarnation of the god.