A goddess was chosen in Nepal: a two-year-old girl became the embodiment of Taleju

Nepal has chosen a new Kumari, the name given to girls who have become goddesses in human form. Two-year-old Arya Tara Shakya became the embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju, the patroness of the state and kings. The girl will have to live in a temple and participate in ceremonies until she reaches puberty. Kumari's choice amid ongoing protests in Nepal and her role for the country — in the Izvestia article

The Living Nepali Goddess

Nepal has completed the selection of a new Kumari, a living goddess, the embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju. She became two-year-old Arya Tara Shakya, who was solemnly introduced to the Kumari Ghar Temple complex in Kathmandu on September 30, 2025 during the celebration of the Dashain festival. The girl was elected from the Nepali Buddhist Shakya clan, she will replace 11-year-old Trishna Shakya, who has served as Kumari since 2017 and has reached puberty.

The Nepali Kumari tradition dates back to ancient times. In the local culture, Kumari is considered the living embodiment of the goddess Taleju and is revered as a symbol of purity, purity and divine power.

Choosing a Kumari is based on strict physical and spiritual criteria: a girl should have flawless skin, hair, eyes and teeth, and not be afraid of the dark. To test the latter condition, the girls spend the night in a temple surrounded by severed buffalo heads.

After his election, Kumari moves to the temple palace, where he lives in isolation, participates in religious ceremonies and blesses the faithful. Access to her is limited, and she rarely leaves the palace.

Kumari and Nepali Life

Kumaris participate in various ceremonies and festivals of Nepal's religious life such as Indra Jatra and Dashain. Believers come to her, bring gifts and worship her as a living deity, and the blessings of the girl goddesses are considered especially powerful.

At the same time, Kumari's life is not limited only to religious activities. Modern trends allow female goddesses to receive education, watch TV, and even receive a small pension after completing their ministry.

However, many former Kumaris face difficulties returning to normal life after finishing their roles. This applies to social isolation and difficulties with adaptation — girls are carried in their arms, not allowing them to get down to the ground, and they cannot play with other children.

Traditions and protests

While Nepal continues to preserve its deep religious ancient traditions, the country is facing political instability.

Mass protests swept Nepal on September 4, following the introduction of a ban on the operation of large social networks that did not register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on time.

In response, Prime Minister Sharma Oli resigned, and demonstrators set fire to the Parliament building, the Supreme Court, the homes of senior officials and other government offices in Kathmandu.

Against the background of these unrest, more than 13,500 prisoners escaped from prisons, which led to numerous robberies, arson and attacks. By September 10, Nepal's Ministry of Health had reported 30 dead and 1,033 injured as a result of the riots.