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Nepal: New 2-year-old girl chosen as Living Goddess  DW  10/01/2025

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Aryatara Shakya, aged 2 years and 8 months, was formally enthroned as Nepal's new Kumari or living goddess on Tuesday during the Dashain festival, replacing 11-year-old Trishna Shakya who had served since 2017 until reaching puberty.</span

Aryatara Shakya, aged 2 years and 8 months, was formally enthroned as Nepal's new Kumari or living goddess on Tuesday during the Dashain festival, replacing 11-year-old Trishna Shakya who had served since 2017 until reaching puberty.

The selection process involved the Shakya Mahavihar Association consulting with 15 traditional monastic courtyards and working with the Guthi Sansthan and Panchang Committee over nearly two years to identify suitable candidates.</span

The selection process involved the Shakya Mahavihar Association consulting with 15 traditional monastic courtyards and working with the Guthi Sansthan and Panchang Committee over nearly two years to identify suitable candidates.

Candidates must meet strict physical requirements including unblemished skin, hair, eyes and teeth, plus pass 32 body perfections and undergo courage tests involving sacrificed buffalos and masked dancers to prove fearlessness.</span

Candidates must meet strict physical requirements including unblemished skin, hair, eyes and teeth, plus pass 32 body perfections and undergo courage tests involving sacrificed buffalos and masked dancers to prove fearlessness.

Family members carried Aryatara from her home in Itumbahal through Kathmandu streets to Kumari Ghar temple palace, where devotees touched her feet with their foreheads and offered flowers and money as signs of respect.</span

Family members carried Aryatara from her home in Itumbahal through Kathmandu streets to Kumari Ghar temple palace, where devotees touched her feet with their foreheads and offered flowers and money as signs of respect.

The new Kumari will live in isolation at the temple palace with few selected playmates and limited outside visits, though recent changes allow private tutoring, television access and internet facilities within the residence.</span

The new Kumari will live in isolation at the temple palace with few selected playmates and limited outside visits, though recent changes allow private tutoring, television access and internet facilities within the residence.

Former Kumaris often struggle with normal life transitions and face marriage difficulties due to folklore beliefs, though the government now provides retired living goddesses with monthly pensions of approximately $110.</span

Former Kumaris often struggle with normal life transitions and face marriage difficulties due to folklore beliefs, though the government now provides retired living goddesses with monthly pensions of approximately $110.

Nepal Enthrones 2-Year-Old Girl as New Living Goddess

Nepal Enthrones 2-Year-Old Girl as New Living Goddess

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Nepal Enthrones 2-Year-Old Girl as New Living Goddess

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