KUMARI

Kumari is known as the incarnation of the goddess Kali, but she is not so ferocious as the latter. In Nepal, particularly in Kathmandu, Kumari is a living goddess. The presiding goddess of Kathmandu is a Kumari, a girl chosen from among the shakya girls. Including the President and earlier kings of Nepal, all dignitaries and people of Nepal pay homage to her. Other Kumari’s are there in several other monatries and areas in Kathmandu valley who are worshipped in similar way at various locations. For more information on the origin of Kumari and the Kumari Ratha Jatra, a festival to celeberare her, see Kumari Ratha Jatra.