new kamari
30/09/2008
for the first time in nepalese history, the kumari or ‘living goddess’ has been appointed by the maoist government, rather than by local priests. the new kamari, shreeya bajracharya, was appointed this week after undertaking a gruelling selection process.
while numerous villages appoint their own kumaris, the royal kumari of kathmandu is the most well known and revered. the kumaris are believed to be the living incarnation of the goddess taleju and they serve from approximately age 6 until the day they begin menstruation.
the previous kumari left her post early, after scandal relating to her decision to travel to the united states to promote a documentary about the life of kumaris in nepal.
kumaris live a life of great power and privilege, but also of isolation. they have various civic duties to perform until their reign has ended. former kumaris are granted a national pension for life and attempt to rejoin society. however, there’s a common belief that marrying a kumari is bad luck and that the husband will die soon after. this myth, although popular, is easily dispelled.
full story courtesy of bbc. a story about the life of kumaris. wikipedia entry about kumaris.