Aryatara Shakya, a two-year-and-eight-month-old girl, has been officially enthroned as Nepal’s new Kumari, or “living goddess.” Her sacred journey began when her family carried her through a narrow alley in Kathmandu to a temple palace, marking the start of her revered role. The ceremony took place during Indra Jatra, the nation’s most famous and longest Hindu festival.

Tradition and Succession

According to tradition, a Kumari steps down once she reaches puberty and returns to ordinary life. Aryatara succeeds Trishna Shakya, the former Kumari who served since 2017 and is now eleven years old.

Kumaris are selected exclusively from the Shakya clans of the Newar community, native to the Kathmandu Valley. They are honoured by both Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal, a country with a predominantly Hindu population. Candidates are usually chosen between the ages of two and four. They must have flawless skin, hair, eyes, and teeth, and must not be afraid of the dark.

Ceremonial Parade and Festival Timing

Earlier this month, during Indra Jatra, the former Kumari was paraded through the city on a chariot pulled by devoted followers. Traditionally, the Kumari wears red robes, styles her hair in a topknot, and has a painted “third eye” on her forehead.

Aryatara’s enthronement also fell on the eighth day of Dashain, a fifteen-day festival celebrating the victory of good over evil. Dashain is one of Nepal’s most important festivals, during which schools and offices close while families gather to celebrate. Dashain is followed by other key festivities, including Tihar or Diwali.

Procession and Public Blessings

The ceremony included a colorful procession, with family, friends, and devotees escorting Aryatara through Kathmandu’s streets before she entered her new home at the temple palace, where she will reside for several years. Devotees lined the route, touching her feet with their foreheads—the highest form of respect in Hindu tradition—and offered flowers and money as blessings. Aryatara is expected to bless the public, including the president, on Thursday.

“She was just my daughter yesterday, but today she is a goddess,” said her father, Ananta Shakya. He added that signs of her future role appeared even before her birth. “My wife, during pregnancy, dreamed that she was a goddess, and we knew she was going to be someone very special.”

The Former Kumari Departs

The former Kumari, Trishna Shakya, left quietly through a rear entrance on a palanquin carried by her family and supporters. The role of Kumari is highly sought-after, with eligible families from the Shakya clan competing for the honour. For the chosen family, the position brings prestige and respect both within society and their community.