Kumari (goddess)

Kumari, Kumari Devi, or the Living Goddess is the tradition of worshipping a chosen living goddess as manifestations of the divine female energy or Shakti in religious traditions in Nepal and parts of India. A Kumari is a prepubescent girl selected from the Shakya clan of the Nepali Newari Buddhist community. It is believed that the girl is possessed by the goddess Taleju or Durga. When her first menstruation begins, it is believed that the deity vacates her body. Serious illness or a major loss of blood from an injury also causes loss of deity.

The word ''Kumari'' is derived from Sanskrit meaning princess. The festival is celebrated during Kumari Jatra, which follows the Indra Jatra religious ceremony. The procession is akin to Indra or Sakra, taking Indrani to his celestial abode as his bride. The Kumari is also revered and worshipped by some of Nepal's Hindus.

While there are several Kumaris throughout Nepal, with some cities having several, the best known is the Royal Kumari of Kathmandu. She lives in the Kumari Ghar, a palace in the center of the city. The selection process for her is especially rigorous. As of 2025, the Royal Kumari of Kathmandu is Aryatara Shakya, aged two, selected in September 2025. Unika Bajracharya, selected in April 2014 as the Kumari of Patan, is the second most important living goddess.

The Kumari tradition is a particularly prevalent practice in the Kathmandu Valley. It is followed in the cities of Kathmandu, Lalitpur (also called Patan), Bhaktapur (also called Bhadgaun), Sankhu, and Bungamati. The selection process and roles of the Kumari vary among the different towns. Provided by Wikipedia