When you walk around Kathmandu Durbar Square during Indra Jatra, you might see a little girl dressed in red silk, golden ornaments, and striking eye makeup, riding in a chariot as crowds bow to her. She is the Kumari, Nepal’s Living Goddess which is a unique tradition where a young girl is honored as the symbol of divine female power.
Who is the Kumari?
The word Kumari comes from Sanskrit and means virgin. In the Newar tradition, a young girl from the community is carefully chosen to be the living goddess Taleju, who protects Kathmandu. She is usually a child before puberty and is selected based on specific physical and astrological signs. Even though she is very young, both Hindus and Buddhists worship her. The Kumari tradition is a unique and important cultural and spiritual practice in Nepal
Image source: Oomesh Rana Manandhar
The Selection of a Goddess
The procedure of turning into a Kumari is not a simple one, it is filled with old rituals and standards. The selected girl needs to be of the Shakya or Bajracharya clan of the Newars and needs to possess 32 physical and spiritual perfections, one of them being fearlessness. After that, she is transferred into the Kumari Ghar (House of the Living Goddess) in Kathmandu where she lives a pure life, performing rituals and only appearing in public on special occasions.
Life of a Living Goddess
Although her situation is held in high esteem, her life as a Kumari is not like the other children. She is not given the right to walk freely in the society, and has a small school life and is transported on golden palanquin in the major festivals such as Indra Jatra. She is a blessing despite these limitations and even the King of Nepal (historically) would prostrate in front of her to have legitimacy.
Legends and Beliefs
According to mythology Goddess Taleju, appeared before a king of Malla in a human shape. When the king insulted her, she disappeared saying that she would only come back as a little girl. The tradition of the Living Goddess has been continued since and is used to represent purity, power and divine protection.
Tradition in Modern Times
There may be inquiries about the ability of the Kumari tradition to align with the new values of the fast changing Nepal. However, the tradition has continued and the role of Kumaris remains great in festivals and religious ceremonies. Majority of former Kumaris have lived good satisfactory lives later on as they live with the extra burden and experience of being a living goddess.
A Sacred Encounter
When you are in Kathmandu, you can see the Kumari Ghar located in Basantapur Durbar Square, where the Living Goddess sometimes comes to the window to give blessings to the faithful. Even to see her momentarily is a blessing that is said to be once in a lifetime.
