Around the world, there are still traditions that are hard to believe exist in the 21st century — and one of them is that of the Kumari, or “living goddess,” in Nepal. Recently, Aryatara Shakya, only two years old, was chosen as the new Kumari — and here are the consequences and damage she will face.
Just days ago, the world was shocked to see photos of little Aryatara Shakya, only 2 years and 8 months old, crowned as Nepal’s new “goddess.” From now on, she will be taken away from her family and confined to a temple, worshiped as a sacred figure until around the age of 12 or 13.
“Yesterday she was just my daughter, but today she is a goddess,” said Aryatara’s father, who also claimed that his wife had known since pregnancy that their child would be “special.”
But being a Kumari is far darker than it seems. Here’s how these “living goddesses” are chosen, why they lose their divinity, and the painful consequences they face afterward.
How a Kumari Is Chosen
The Kumari tradition dates back to the 12th century, and is unique in the world. Both Hindu and Buddhist devotees believe that among girls aged 2 to 4, one is the reincarnation of the goddess Durga.
The selection process is strict and unsettling: the child must endure being locked in a dark room to test her serenity, and spend a night alone in a temple to prove her composure and spiritual closeness to the divine.
Physical “perfection” is also required — flawless skin and hair, a body free of scars or moles, large eyes with long lashes, a soft and clear voice “like a duck’s,” delicate legs “like a deer’s,” perfect teeth, and a clean medical history.
Once chosen, the girl’s life changes completely — and not for the better.
Once crowned, the Kumari moves into the Kumari Ghar, a sacred temple where she lives in isolation. She cannot attend school or play with other children. Every day, she participates in religious rituals and can only appear in public on special occasions to bless her people.
To outsiders, it might seem like a privilege. In reality, it’s a childhood erased — one spent behind temple walls, surrounded by worshippers but deprived of human connection.
A Kumari’s divine status ends the moment she bleeds — whether from her first menstruation, a cut, a fall, or even a loose tooth. That’s when, according to belief, “the goddess leaves her body.” And that’s when the nightmare truly begins.
After losing their divine title, the girls face a harsh reality. Having spent years believing they were goddesses, they are thrust into a world they don’t understand. Most have never attended a traditional school or made friends. At 12, many can’t read, write, add, or subtract, and struggle to socialize.
In some communities, people even fear former Kumaris, believing it’s bad luck to marry a girl who was once a goddess. Many suffer from psychological trauma, loneliness, and a deep sense of emptiness — going from being worshiped to being ignored or rejected.
Although Nepal’s government has established a pension for former Kumaris, life after being adored as a living goddess is still harsh. Many carry long-term emotional scars and mental health issues that can last a lifetime.
Behind the myth and devotion lies a painful truth:
For these girls, divinity comes at the cost of their childhood — and humanity.
