Written by: Parisa Nepal - 27033, Grade IX
Posted on: 09 February, 2024
Nepal is a small country located in the middle of the huge Himalayas. Even though Nepal is a small country, it is full of culture and diversity. Among all the different traditions, one of the unique traditions of Nepal is the living goddess; Kumari.
Kumari is the representation of Taleju Bhawani. The ancient kings of Nepal were deep devotees of the goddess Taleju. Due to this, she would often visit the palace to play games of cards with them. While playing cards, she got into a conflict with King Jayaprakash Malla. Some people say that King Jayaprakash Malla tried to sexually harass the goddess, and due to this incident, the goddess got upset and disappeared and didn't return. After this incident, the king was extremely disappointed and wanted to ask for her forgiveness. But as she didn't return, he did countless prayers asking for forgiveness, and after lots of prayers, she appeared in his dreams and asked the king to choose a young Kumari for her to possess so that the people could continue to worship her. Due to this incident, the tradition of worshipping Kumari started.
A Kumari candidate is selected from a Buddhist family of the Shakya clan. The process of being a Kumari isn't easy; she has to go through 7 difficult tests, in which if she performs well in most, then only she will be chosen for the role. Once the chosen girl completes the purification rites and crosses from the temple on a white cloth to the Kumari Ghar to assume her role as Kumari, her life takes on an entirely new chapter. She is allowed to leave her palace only on ceremonial occasions; her family will visit her rarely. Kumari's new life is vastly different from the one she has been living in her past life. She has ceremonial duties to carry out. She is expected to behave as a goddess. She has to show the correct qualities: always feeling fresh, not being tired, always wearing makeup if anyone is visiting, and she also can't touch the ground.
Kumari also can't show any emotion; it is believed that something will happen if Kumari shows emotions. For example: crying or loud laughter suggests serious illness or death, weeping or rubbing eyes: imminent death, trembling: imprisonment, hand clapping: reason to fear the king, picking at food offerings: financial losses. It is also believed that the year the Royal Massacre took place, Kumari had cried.
Traditionally, the Kumari received no education, as she was widely considered to be unreliable. However, modernization has made it necessary for her to have an education. Kumaris are now allowed to attend public schools. While many Kumaris, such as the Kumari of Bhaktapur, attend school, others, such as the main Kumari in Kathmandu, receive their education through private tutors. She also can't have any single wound or blood stains as it is considered impure. So only such types of girls who never had any injury are selected. Once a Kumari starts her period, she is considered impure, and a new Kumari is appointed soon after.
