on March 3rd we Celebrate "girls day"

This year my family celebrated Hinamatsuri also known as "girls day" or "the doll festival". It is celebrated every year on March 3rd. On this day platforms covered in red carpet are used to display dolls ( 雛人形 hina-ningyō ).

Families usually start displaying the dolls in February and take them down as soon as the festival is over ( March 4 ) . There is a popular belief in Japan that if the dolls are put away late, it will result in a late marriage for the daughter. 

Below are a few things  I learned as well as a few pictures.

1. There are customary dishes, for example Chirashizushi and ushiojiru.
2. The dolls cost a fortune!!! anywhere between 300,000 yen to 1,000,000 yen. ( I'm lucky that my wife's dolls are still in mint condition ) 
3. There are usually 5 - 7 platforms, each platform is set with the type of doll it displays.