Denija And Her Gunyucholo

I have been engaged in Gunyucholo program this weekend.In Nepal, when girls turn into the age of 7 or 8 (usually 7) they are given a “GUNYO CHOLO” which is a traditional dress like the picture above which includes a cholo (top/blouse) and a sari (skirt like) and lots of jewelleries. This is to symbolise that she is slowing turning into a woman soon. It is a very typical tradition held for all Nepalese girls no matter where you are born or raised when you reach this age this ceremony will take place.This little girl here is my niece and she has officially turned age 7 and she has been given the “GUNYO CHOLO” to symbolise for “coming age of a girl”.The gunyo cholo tradition or gunyo cholo ceremony is very important in Nepal and is observed by Nepali girls regardless of where they are born or raised. It is also known as the 'coming-age-of-a-girl' ritual.Parents (especially parents and grandparents) used to give their daughters a set of conventional garments (sari or Guniu-Cholo) and do some rituals before they reached puberty in the past.By doing this, the girl is saved from having to endure a room where she can see no male members nor even a single ray of sunshine when she reaches her first menstruation cycle, which is a custom still widespread in rural communities in Nepal). This coming-age-of-a-girl ritual is usually performed at home, in front of close family and friends. During the ceremony, the girl is first bathed in holy water. Then, she is dressed in her gunyo cholo and given a flower garland to wear around her neck. Tika, a mixture of vermilion powder, banana, and yogurt) is put on her forehead by her parents or grandparents and flowers are placed in her hair as a symbol of prosperity and good luck. The young girl then performs a small puja (worship) ceremony, after which she is blessed by the elders present. After the puja is over, the girl is free to enjoy the rest of her special day with her friends and family. She will often receive gifts such as clothes, jewelry, and money from her loved ones on this occasion. It is generally given on special days like holidays or Dashain and in accordance with the lunar calendar. The young lady is given a set of traditional clothes that include Guniu-Choli, fariya, and patuka, as well as other ornaments such as lachi and sir-bandi. After that, the rest of the family puts tika on her forehead and flowers in her hair. They give her blessings with gifts and money. In this way the puja is completed, and the young lady enjoys the rest of the day with friends Here is the list of items you need for the gunyo cholo ceremony: A gunyo cholo dress Jewelry A pair of shoes Makeup items Hair accessories Nail polish and nail art supplies A gunyo cholo invitation card A gunyo cholo cake Food and drinks Songs Gifts Balloons and streamers (optional) Gunyo cholo banner Tika - a mark made on the forehead with vermillion powder, turmeric, yogurt, and rice. Mala - a garland made of flowers. Chura - red and white bangles worn on the wrists. Jhumki - earrings. Kanthi - a necklace made of beads and gold. Pote - bracelets made of silver and coral. Rings - Gold or silver rings worn on the fingers. The gunyo cholo ceremony is a time for family and friends to come together to celebrate a young girl's transition into womanhood. It is also an opportunity for the girl to learn about her own culture and heritage. During the ceremony, the girl is typically dressed in a gunyo cholo dress and jewelry. She is also given a small puja or worship ceremony. A feast is usually served afterward, which typically consists of traditional Nepali dishes Denija has been my favourite girl since birth and her presence in my family has a great value we encourage her to be happy and confident like ordinary girl.