A two-year-old girl chosen as Nepal’s new living goddess was carried by family members from their home in an alley in Kathmandu to a temple palace on Tuesday during the country's biggest festival.

A two-year-old girl chosen as Nepal’s new living goddess was carried by family members from their home in an alley in Kathmandu to a temple palace on Tuesday during the country’s biggest festival.

  • aramis87@fedia.io
    39·
    2 days ago

    Wikipedia says

    “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. […] While there are several Kumaris throughout Nepal, with some cities having several, the best known is the Royal Kumari of Kathmandu. […] her life takes on an entirely new character. She will leave her palace only on ceremonial occasions. Her family will visit her rarely, and then only in a formal capacity. Her playmates will be drawn from a narrow pool of Newari children from her caste, usually the children of her caretakers.”

    Uh, what becomes of these poor girls once they reach puberty? I’m guessing they get married off to some well-connected old, rich person. It seems such a sad life :(