The living child goddess

Bhaktapur, Bagmati, Nepal
November 9, 2008

Shreeya Bajracharya, the living child goddess or Kumari of Bhaktapur, at her parental home in Bhaktapur.

Shreeya Bajracharya was only six years old when she became the living child goddess or Kumari of Bhaktapur in October 2008.

It is an ancient believe in the Kathmandu Valley to worship virgin girls or Kumaris in order to receive blessings from the ancestors.

Shreeya only performs her role as Kumari during the annual Dashain festival. The rest of the year she lives at home. However, she is worshipped every morning by her family and occasional visitors.

© 2008 Tom Van Cakenberghe. All rights reserved.

Home Page