The sun rises over the Kathmandu Valley as a toddler is beautified with red and yellow face paint. She is decked in gold and silver jewellery, and her eyes are outlined with bold kohl.
This young girl is a Kumari, a manifestation of the divine female energy. She is believed to be a living goddess (Devi), the incarnation Taleju, a manifestation of the Hindu goddess Durga. A Kumari's reign can begin as young as two years old and last till the first day of her menstrual cycle.
The tradition is followed in several cities in Nepal, and as a result, there are a number of Kumaris in the country, but the best known is the Royal Kumari of the capital, Kathmandu. For the duration of her period of divinity, she resides in a palace in the city centre called the Kumari Ghar. The Kumari makes short appearances at the window of this ornate brick building, attracting throngs of curious devotees for a glimpse of the girl. Kumaris live a life of seclusion - confined in the "Temple of the Living Goddess" - and rarely speak to the public.
THE LEGEND
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