In Assam when a girl hits puberty, many rituals and traditions are performed to welcome her maturity and fertility

This tradition is called ‘Tuloni Biya’ or ‘small wedding’ to celebrate a girl’s first period

It is much similar to a real wedding, except for the absence of the groom  

The girl is confined in a room for four to seven days

No man is allowed to see her and even the girl is restricted from seeing even a picture of a man

On the fourth day, she needs to take a ceremonial bath smeared with turmeric

The girl also needs to maintain a strict diet. She is allowed to eat only boiled food or fruits and sprouts

On the seventh day, the girl again takes the ceremonial bath smeared with turmeric

After the bath, she is cladded in "mekhela chador" and wedded to a banana tree as part of the ceremony

This is followed by a grand feast and celebrations in which the girl is showered with gifts and jewellery