A toddler has been chosen as Nepal’s newest living goddess, a revered position in the Himalayan nation that is honored by both Hindus and Buddhists.
On Tuesday, 2-year-8-month-old Aryatara Shakya was carried by her family from their home in Kathmandu to the temple palace where she will live for several years as the Kumari, or “virgin goddess.” She replaces the former goddess, who, by tradition, returns to mortal life upon reaching puberty.
The Kumari is always selected from the Shakya clan of the Newar community, indigenous to the Kathmandu Valley. Candidates must be between the ages of two and four, with flawless features, and must show no fear of darkness.
The transition took place during Dashain, Nepal’s most important Hindu festival, which celebrates the victory of good over evil. Crowds gathered as family, friends, and devotees paraded the young goddess through the streets before escorting her into the temple palace. Many knelt to touch their foreheads to her feet—a gesture of the highest respect—and presented her with flowers and offerings. On Thursday, she is expected to bless devotees, including the country’s president.
Her father, Ananta Shakya, said the family had sensed her destiny even before her birth. “My wife dreamed she was carrying a goddess,” he shared.
The previous Kumari, 11-year-old Trishna Shakya, had served since 2017. Upon her retirement, she quietly departed the palace on a palanquin.
While the role of the Kumari brings social prestige to the family, it also imposes restrictions. Kumaris live a secluded life with limited interaction with other children and only appear in public during key festivals. Adjusting to ordinary life afterward can be challenging, and folklore still discourages men from marrying former Kumaris.
Traditions, however, are evolving. Today, Kumaris are allowed private tutoring inside the temple, access to television, and a modest government pension after stepping down.
For Aryatara Shakya, what began as an ordinary childhood has now transformed into a sacred life at the heart of Nepal’s spiritual traditions.
