Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Nepal looks for new "living goddess"
Share:
by Heiky | August 13, 2008 at 12:23 pm
1253 views | 10 Recommendations | 14 comments
Photos
It is a centuries-old tradition for Nepal to have a young girl serve as the Kumari, the virgin "living goddess", and the search for a candidate to replace the current Kumari has already begun. Religious authorities are searching for a girl as young as 3-4 years old.
"If we don't change her now, we'll have to wait until next year which could be late," said Deepak Bahadur Pandey, a senior official of the state-run Trust Corporation that oversees the country's cultural matters.
Why would it be "late"? Well, it is crucial to find a replacement before the current Kumari starts to menstrate, because it would be considered inauspicious if the girl starts menstrauting while serving as Kumari.
Under the Kumari tradition, a girl selected from a Buddhist Newar family goes through a rigorous cultural process and becomes the "living goddess."
She is considered by many as an incarnation of the powerful deity Kali and is revered until she menstruates, after which she must return to the family and a new one is chosen.
Pandey said the keepers in Kathmandu's elaborately carved wooden temple where the "goddess" lives, have already started the secret selection process.
The Kumari must be "perfect" in all aspects. She is often dressed in red and gold and carried in a wooden chariot pulled by men during Hindu and Buddist festivals.
The "Kumari" must have perfect eyes, teeth, hair and must not have even a small scratch to her skin.
Traditionally it was believed that the girl's horoscope should be in harmony with that of the king of Nepal. It is not clear how this formality will be completed now that Nepal has abolished the monarchy.
Many people believe that the Kumari is the Goddess as stated below. Nepali Hindus and Buddhists also consider the "living goddess" as an embodiment of Taleju Bhavani (the goddess of strength).
"I believe she is the goddess," said 50-year-old Saili Tamang, selling the present Kumari's pictures outside the temple. "Otherwise why would people respect her ?"
The girl serving as Kumari gets state allowances and is pretty well looked after. The tradition supporters say that the parents can decide whether they want their daughter to serve as Kumari or not. However, critics claim that the child is denied a normal life and the practice violates fundamental human rights.
Advertisement
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
Sirensongs
Kathmandu, Nepal
andycarvin
Silver Spring, Maryland, United StatesMothic Future
Nepalnickkembel
Canada
dewanr
Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal
Bexley26
Worcestershire, United Kingdomravisayami
United Statesdonib007
Nepalkarendoff
Bristow, Virginia, United Statesowl571
NepalFernando Zarur
Switzerland (Confoederatio Helvetica)badbuoy_naren
Nepalxerics
petersham, New South Wales, Australiamanishakya
Nepalsagarshrestha.com.np
Nepaldianakgarrett424
Los Angeles, California, United Statesagarciar
Spainjohnvincentconti
Ridge, New York, United Statesvisiglow
San Francisco, California, United Statesdhughey
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Most Recommended Stories in World
Recommendations (10)
Anonymous user
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (14)
at 16:46 on August 13th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Very ancient and profound cultures have much we can learn from here in the west ...
- Sign In or Join to post comments
xericsat 17:47 on August 13th, 2008
visit my blog for more information about this living goddess
xerics has contributed a photo to this story.
- Sign In or Join to post comments
sagarshrestha.com.npat 20:08 on August 13th, 2008
No comment your site is good so i like future more developed your site this is my appear thanks
sagarshrestha.com.np has contributed a photo to this story.
- Sign In or Join to post comments
Fernando Zarurat 21:59 on August 13th, 2008
The Kumari is see as an beautiful tradition but also as a human rights issue. Should a little girl be locked up in early age and be worshiped as a goddess? On the other hand, should we ignore centuries of tradition and religion?
To add to this complicated question, the Kumari has also become important for tourism. With so many changes and exciting things happening in Nepal, this is just one more question to be answered.
Fernando Zarur has contributed a photo to this story.
at 01:24 on August 14th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff. Wow - talk about 'Situation Vacant'
at 02:07 on August 14th, 2008
Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff.
That is not such a bad Job, I wish I could volunteer here! Oh well I do not fit the Criteria!
I did see and Interview a couple of month ago with her and she was rather impressively humble and really down to earth!
- Sign In or Join to post comments
dewanrat 05:07 on August 14th, 2008
I dont know much about the festival. That day was special day, when thousands of devotees thronged near Lagankhel. A priest climed the poll of the chariot and threw a coconut from the top. Devotees fought badly to get the coconut. It is believed that whoever get the coconut will get son if he is married. But the fight is such wild police had to intervene. but i was so much interested to read Kumari's response to all these things. I wanted to see how she smiles or speaks and all that but she hardly smiles, like the one i caught. She always wears serious face, she is supposed to act like Goddess, not as a child. that is why rights activists are making hue and cry about Kurmari's childhood.
dewanr has contributed a photo to this story.
- Sign In or Join to post comments
Sirensongsat 23:33 on August 15th, 2008
The Kumari has never been important for tourism; foreigners are not even allowed to go near her. At most we can glimpse her for a few seconds @ 4pm daily. By contrast, Indians and Nepalis can see her personally. A racist policy if ever there was one.
However, I disagree with the people objecting on the basis of "child rights." You are talking about a country in which the average child rarely goes to school, let alone gets home tutoring (as she does). Many children work doing illegal child labour instead. So to cry about her not having a "normal childhood" in Nepal is silly. Here, childhood is not a period of fun and games and learning, so her childhood is quite privileged by comparison.
at 13:17 on August 16th, 2008
We were fortunate enough to see the Royal Kumari in April this year. She appeared almost as soon as we arrived in Durbar Square, carried in a litter that the crowds surrounding her were clamouring to take a turn carrying. She was accompanied by the Palace Guard, marching behind with various instruments and flags. We found out later she was being taken to watch a festival (horse racing I think!) elsewhere in Kathmandu. The guide we were with was quite shocked at how lucky we were to see her. She certainly didn't look like she minded the attention from the people in the square! The litter passed right by us so I got some reasonable pictures.
Bexley26 has contributed a photo to this story.
- Sign In or Join to post comments
badbuoy_narenat 21:18 on August 16th, 2008
badbuoy_naren has contributed a photo to this story.
- Sign In or Join to post comments
badbuoy_narenat 21:19 on August 16th, 2008
kumari is the living and only virgin goddess.
- Sign In or Join to post comments
manishakyaat 01:03 on August 17th, 2008
If you are in nepal or planning to come nepal in near future, heres a little bit of information, ie, this year's kumari festival is going to start from 2nd week of september and will last over a week. You can get chance to see the chariot procession of living goddess through parts of kathmandu. More info. on living goddess can be found at http://hinduism.about.com/cs/godsgoddess/a/aa090903a.htm
manishakya has contributed a photo to this story.
- Sign In or Join to post comments
johnvincentcontiat 14:50 on August 18th, 2008
This photograph is of an original oil painting that I did several years ago. I had noticed several photos in a local newspaper of a man carrying a young girl on his shoulders surrounded by a throng of wellwishers. As I read the article I learned that the young girl was a Nepalese Kumari and was accorded the highest level of respect in her country. Fascinated by her elaborate dress and makeup, I decided to try to paint my interpretation of her poised and innocent beauty. The result is my oil painting, "The Littlest Goddess" for which I retain all rights. John V. Conti
johnvincentconti has contributed a photo to this story.
- Sign In or Join to post comments
newfileengine (not verified)at 11:51 on November 20th, 2008
I surfed all the web till found the best searcher. Films, picts, mp3’s, videos and lots more at http://newfileengine.com/