this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2025
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Global News

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A 2-year-old girl has been chosen as Nepal’s new living goddess, known as the Kumari. Aryatara Shakya replaces the previous Kumari, who has followed the tradition of stepping down upon reaching puberty.

Archived version: https://archive.is/20251001214125/https://apnews.com/article/nepal-living-goddess-hindu-tradition-0cd93fa79e3446ffdf995210f44b8f99


Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

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[–] RogueBanana@piefed.zip 9 points 1 day ago

The section I was most interested in was all the way at the bottom, for somewhat obvious reason ig.

But Kumaris live a sequestered life. They have few selected playmates and are allowed outside only a few times a year for festivals.

Former Kumaris face difficulties adjusting to normal life, learning to do chores and attending regular schools. Nepalese folklore says men who marry a former Kumari will die young, which has resulted in many of the girls remaining unmarried.

Over the past few years, there have been many changes in tradition and the Kumari is now allowed to receive an education from private tutors inside the temple palace and even have a television set.

The government also offers retired Kumaris a small monthly pension of about $110, which is slightly above the minimum wage fixed by the government.

[–] BrikoX@lemmy.zip 21 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Am I the only one who finds this whole tradition creepy?

[–] Flyberius@hexbear.net 9 points 1 day ago

It's incredibly fucked up is what it is

[–] EndMilkInCrisps@hexbear.net 8 points 1 day ago

Religious institutions and children always give me the ick.

[–] Linktank@lemmy.today 15 points 1 day ago

Religion is cancer.

[–] WellTheresYourCobbler@hexbear.net 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I saw this on wikipedias homepage and yeah this feels so weird. Idk if it’s disrespectful but the selection process especially is just uhhh

Body evaluation of a child? Idk how to CW this

Girls who pass these basic eligibility requirements are examined for the battis lakshanas, or “thirty-two perfections” of a goddess, which involves their bodies being stripped of all clothing and caressed by the priests.

Some of these “perfections” are poetically listed, as such: A neck like a conch shell

A body like a banyan tree

Eyelashes like a cow

Thighs like a deer

Chest like a lion

Voice as soft and clear as a duck’s

In addition to this, her hair and eyes should be as black as possible, and she should have dainty hands and feet, small and well-recessed sexual organs, and a set of twenty teeth

Edits: numerous corrections to formatting and text because im bad at this game

[–] Kefla@hexbear.net 4 points 1 day ago

What's disrespectful is everything about this disgusting "selection process" holy fuck ew

[–] TacoButtPlug@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

They don't get to walk either. Have to be carried everywhere. So no running and climbing and playing.