Nepal chooses a 2-year-old girl as new living goddess worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists
CNN2 days
The Kumari tradition forces innocent children, unable to consent, into isolation, stripping them of normal childhood experiences and basic freedoms. This practice violates fundamental child rights by confining young girls to designated premises under restrictive rules that damage their mental health and social development during their most critical developmental years and complicate their reintegration into ordinary life.
The Kumari tradition brings immense joy to thousands of devotees who believe touching her feet brings good fortune. The rigorous selection process ensures only the most spiritually qualified candidates become living embodiments of goddess Taleju. Questioning the 2,300-year-old practice for alleged human rights violations based on Western frameworks risks coming across as culturally imperialistic.
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