living goddess

I found this article while searching my hometown on webfeat.This article also includes some excerpts written by Ali Jaafar and Jon Burbank.

Nepal is the only country having living goddess- Kumari. Kumari is a Nepali word meaning ‘virgin goddess.’ From the time immemorial, the practice of worshipping an ordinary, pre-pubescent girl as a source of supreme power has been an integral part of both Hinduism and Buddhism. The Kumari, or living goddesses, are chosen for their physical and mental purity and are required to live in a temple, blessing believers until they reach puberty, at which point they are allowed to retire and live a normal life. You can also see Wikipedia for details.

kumari
Originally uploaded by srijananepal