LIVING GODDESS IN NEPAL

Kumari Devi & the Indra Jatra Festival

The Himalayan Hindu kingdom of Nepal is not only the land of many mountain peaks, but also many gods and goddess, unique among all of them being the living, breathing goddess – Kumari Devi, a deified young girl.
The custom of worshipping a pre-pubescent girl, who is not a born goddess, as the source of supreme power is an old Hindu-Buddhist tradition that still continues to this day in Nepal.
Choosing the Living GoddessThe selection of the Kumari, who is entitled to sit on the pedestal for worship as the Living Goddess is an elaborate affair. According to the traditions of Vajrayana sect of Mahayana Buddhism, girls in the age-group of 4-7 year, who belong to the Sakya community, and have an ‘appropriate’ horoscope are screened on the basis of their 32 attributes of perfection, including color of eyes, shape of teeth and even voice quality. They are then are taken to meet the deities in a dark room, where terrifying tantrik rituals are performed. The real goddess is one who stays calm and collected throughout these trials. Other Hindu-Buddhist rituals that follow finally determine the real Kumari.
Girl Becomes GoddessAfter the ceremonies, the spirit of the goddess is said to enter her body. She takes on the clothing and jewelry of her predecessor, and is given the title of Kumari Devi, who is worshipped on all religious occasions. She would now live in a place called ‘Kumari Ghar’, at Kathmandu’s Hanumandhoka palace square. It is a beautifully decorated house where the living goddess performs her daily rituals.
Goddess Turns HumanThe Kumari’s godhood comes to an end with her first menstruation, because it is believed that on reaching puberty the Kumari turns human. However, if she turns out to be unlucky, even a minor cut or bleeding can render her invalid for worship, and the search for the new goddess has to begin.
The Kumari FestivalEvery September, on the Indra Jatra festival, the living goddess in all her bejeweled splendor is borne in a palanquin in a religious procession through parts of the Nepalese Capital. It is a grand carnival attended by people in thousands, who come to see the living goddess and seek her blessings. In keeping with an old tradition, the Kumari also blesses the King of Nepal during this festival.

The opportunity is rarer than they think because six-year-old Preeti Sakya - the living Hindu goddess or Kumari - has been hidden away for six months during a row over who gets tourists' money.
Her guardians say she should receive a fair share of the fee tourists pay for entry to Kathmandu's Hanumandhoka palace square where she lives.
Municipal officials say they have to use the proceeds of the $2.50 fee to maintain the world heritage-listed site.
Still, for one day at least tourists will be able to see the Kumari when she is borne in a palanquin - a covered litter - in a religious procession through Kathmandu.
The municipality earns in the name of Kumari and we don't get anything to maintain the rituals associated with her

Gautam Sakya, guardian

Preeti was chosen as Kumari three years ago.
According to the 300-year-old tradition, a girl from the Sakya caste of the Newari community in the Kathmandu Valley is selected through rigorous tests.
She remains the goddess until puberty and is called upon to give blessings to Nepal's Hindus and Buddhists - and even the king.

Tug of war

Normally, the Kumari appears for tourists through an intricately carved window at her residence in the historic square.
But not for the past six months. Her guardians have withdrawn her from sight because of the row with the Kathmandu municipality.

The guardians want 10% of the take from entrance fees
"It is unfair," says Gautam Sakya, one of the guardians. "The municipality earns in the name of Kumari and we do not get anything to maintain the rituals associated with her."
The guardians insist that the local body should pay them at least 10% of its annual earnings of a little over $200,000.
Municipality officials argue they have to meet costs for conservation work at the site, recently listed as endangered by the UN cultural organisation, Unesco.
"Still, we have offered them around $200 a month, but they are yet to respond," says Deepak Kansakar, manager of the Kathmandu municipality's conservation project at the Hanumandhoka site.
Before the municipality began charging tourists the entrance fee two years ago, foreign visitors were allowed to see the Kumari and offered money individually.
Gautam Sakya says: "But now, since tourists pay the entrance fee to the municipality, the visitors demand they should get to see the Kumari while she gets nothing in return."
In the tug of war between the municipality and the guardians, the tourists have been the losers.
"We were told she would appear there for us," said Kurd Luger, an Austrian backpacker, pointing at the window.
"It's disappointing to learn that we will not get to see her."