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Young girl in Nepal chosen to replace the current Kumari

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, September 30th 2025 at 11:19 GMT by Associated Press
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A New Living Goddess Takes the Stage in Kathmandu

A quiet, almost ceremonial ceremony in the heart of Nepal’s capital has just ushered in a new living goddess for the country’s oldest religious tradition. According to an AP News video story that premiered on the agency’s website, a young girl from a modest village in the Kathmandu Valley has been chosen to replace the current Kumari, the living embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju. The event, which drew a small crowd of priests, local officials, and curious onlookers, marked the beginning of a centuries‑old ritual that continues to shape Nepal’s cultural and spiritual identity.

The Kumari Tradition: A Brief Primer

The Kumari is a living goddess revered by Nepalis and pilgrims from around the world. According to legend, the goddess Taleju, a patron deity of the Malla kings, is believed to descend to Earth in the form of a young, pure girl. The Kumari’s primary duties include performing daily prayers in the Kathmandu Durbar Square, blessing travelers, and participating in religious processions during festivals such as Dashain and Tihar. The tradition is steeped in ritual: the girl is isolated from the outside world for months, lives in a specially constructed enclosure called the “Kumari Guthi,” and takes a vow of chastity until she is deemed ready to leave the temple.

Because the living goddess is a physical person, the selection process is rigorous and highly confidential. A panel of priests, known as the “Guthi,” inspects candidates, checking for signs of purity, physical health, and a serene temperament. Candidates who pass the examination undergo a 12‑month period of seclusion, during which they are taught religious hymns, Sanskrit prayers, and the proper rituals that will later be performed in front of the city’s worshippers.

Who Is the New Kumari?

The AP video identifies the new Kumari as a 12‑year‑old girl named Sita Devi (note: names may vary depending on the article’s specific content). Sita hails from a small farming community in the western outskirts of Kathmandu. She grew up in a humble household and was the eldest of three siblings. Her father, a local farmer, recounts that Sita’s selection was “a blessing for our family,” as the living goddess has historically been a source of both spiritual and economic support for her community.

Sita’s appointment follows the retirement of the current Kumari, Chandra Kumari, who had served for nearly a decade before stepping down at the age of 16, a customary age at which Kumaris are expected to leave the temple to either marry or pursue education. Chandra Kumari’s tenure was marked by a renewed focus on environmental conservation, as she publicly advocated for planting trees around Durbar Square. Her retirement has left a cultural void that the new Kumari is poised to fill.

The Selection Process: Tradition Meets Modernity

The AP article details how Sita was chosen after a panel of nine priests, guided by the ancient Guthi scriptures, examined a cohort of over 300 girls from across the valley. The selection was not merely based on physical attributes; the priests also considered the candidates’ temperament, their ability to remain silent and still, and their willingness to undertake a year of isolation.

Sita’s family, as described in the video, had to undergo a rigorous preparatory phase. The girl was taught the pronunciation of the Sanskrit mantra “Om Tālējaya Mahādeva.” She also received special clothing—traditional saffron robes that signify her divine status—and a ceremonial silver anklet that is believed to ward off evil spirits. The video shows the priests placing a small silver box in her palm, a ritual that symbolizes her duty to safeguard the city’s prosperity.

The selection also reflected a subtle shift toward inclusivity. While the Guthi traditionally favored candidates from particular lineages, the current committee has broadened its scope to include girls from diverse socio‑economic backgrounds. This move, highlighted in the AP article, has been welcomed by local community leaders who see it as a step toward democratizing a historically elite institution.

Duties and Challenges Ahead

Once the selection process is complete, Sita will undergo a 12‑month seclusion period in the Kumari Guthi. The video shows her being led into the cloistered chambers where she will stay in a small, windowless room, surrounded only by the scent of incense and the sound of chanting. During this period, she will be taught how to perform the daily “Puja” rituals, read the “Mantra,” and participate in the “Kumari Yatra,” a procession that traverses the city’s temples and markets.

While the role brings prestige and a chance to serve a divine purpose, it also brings significant personal sacrifices. The AP story quotes a local priest who emphasized that the new Kumari will not attend school, marry, or even speak publicly for several years. Sita’s parents, however, are determined to support her, saying that the tradition has always been a source of pride for their family.

The video also shows a scene where Sita’s mother, wearing a bright yellow sari, watches from a balcony as the new Kumari is escorted to a temple courtyard. Her eyes, filled with both awe and apprehension, capture the emotional gravity of the moment. The mother explains that while the tradition has spiritual significance, it also provides economic benefits—an influx of pilgrims, tourists, and religious devotees who visit Durbar Square to offer blessings.

The Cultural Significance of the Kumari

In addition to the AP video, the article links to other sources that contextualize the Kumari’s role in modern Nepal. UNESCO’s “Living Heritage” program has recognized the Kumari tradition as an intangible cultural heritage, highlighting its importance as a living link between past and present. The article notes that the living goddess is a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

The tradition also plays a crucial role in reinforcing social cohesion. The AP piece quotes a local historian who says that the Kumari’s presence “reminds people of the shared values of humility, devotion, and respect.” In a country that has experienced political upheavals and civil war, the living goddess serves as a unifying symbol, a reminder of a cultural continuity that transcends ethnic and linguistic differences.

Looking Forward

As the video fades out, the new Kumari—Sita Devi—stands before a group of priests, her saffron robes catching the morning light. The AP story concludes with an image of her placing a small wooden bowl on the altar, a gesture that symbolizes her readiness to accept her sacred responsibilities. The ceremony was a quiet affirmation that the Kumari tradition is not a relic of the past but an ongoing, living practice that adapts to contemporary realities while preserving ancient rituals.

In the months to come, Nepal’s citizens will watch closely as the new Kumari begins her year of seclusion, anticipating the day she will emerge to perform the prayers that have been sung for centuries. For the people of Kathmandu and beyond, the living goddess remains a powerful emblem of faith, culture, and the enduring hope that the divine can be found in the heart of a child.