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Published: December 4th 2012
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On November 29
th and 30
thwe celebrated the Bel Bibaha of Seelvia (the daughter of Surendra, Gyanendra’s brother), a ceremony for young girls who are growing up. It’s the first of the three weddings in their life: they marry a Bel (kind of fruit, symbol of god Indra), later on they will marry with the sun and then will follow the real wedding: the one with a man.
The ceremony was held for many girls, all dressed up very nicely. The first day, we went there early, but we had to wait for a while till they started. All the girls were sitting in front of their mother, waiting very patiently. Then there was a ‘puja’ (worshipping), and again they have to wait a long time. It’s unbelievable how quiet they keep on waiting...I don’t think young girls in Belgium would be so patient.
The next day we had to go to the same place, this would be the more important day of the ceremony. All the kids were there again, and their family too, dressed nicely for this occasion. Again everyone had to wait, while now and then the parts of the ceremony took place. One by one, the
girls had to let their toes paint red, in the same time they received some gifts. Another important thing that happened: putting ‘sindur’ on the head, the symbol of a real wedding. Later on they received their sari, they had to wear this, meaning they really grew up now. Then the fathers also took part in the ceremony, they stood, together with their wife, behind their daughter, wearing the typical Nepali hat. And then the most important part of the puja happened: they received the Bel, out of a covered pot, so you cannot choose whether you’ll marry a small one or a big one.
After that, we went home to finish the last preparations for the party that would follow and to wait for the ‘bride’ to come home. She arrived a bit later, and like a real bride she was welcomed in front of the house, by lots of people doing ‘puja’ to her. Suddenly women were coming from everywhere, with rice and grains for the worshipping, all trying to be the next to do puja (and almost fighting).
After that, Seelvia went inside: the family of Laxmi, Seelvia’s mother, came for more puja. In the
same time, in a tent outside, the party started: people eating samya baji, the typical newari dish. Many people came (about 200), but as the tradition says: most of them just come for food and go back after that. Only the closer friends and relatives stay longer: there was some live music, some people were dancing and around 9pm the party was over. And also typical Nepali: there was ‘load shedding’ (power cut) during the food: suddenly we were in the very dark night. Luckily people are prepared for that over here. There was a generator that could quickly help us and make the people see what they were eating.
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Marjolijne
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reactie uit Merksplas
Hey Zoë en Gyanendra, Geen paniek. Van mij krijg je niet te horen hoe het in Merksplas gaat ;-) Super om nieuws van jullie te krijgen.Het klinkt allemaal heel ontspannen. Geniet van jullie tijd bij Gyanendra's familie. En laat vooral veel van jullie horen.