Nepal has got a new living goddess. 3 year old Matina Shakya is the new living goddess of Nepal. On Tuesday 7th August 2008, Matina Shakya was installed in the divine role, which she is expected to keep for the next 7-8 years.

The selection process of Nepal’s Kumari

The selection process of Nepal’s living goddess is as follows. A panel of judges conducts series of ancient ceremonies among 2-4 years of girls from the Shakya godsmith caste. The judges scrutinize candidates’s horoscopes and check each one for physical imperfections. The living goddess must have perfect hair, eyes, teeth, skin with no scars and should not be afraid of darkness.

Matina Shakya has to live in the 15th century temple in an old part of Kathmandu. She will now always have to wear red and gold costume. This role she is expected to keep for the next 7-8 years until she reaches puberty.

As per critics, this tradition of appointing a living goddess violates both international and Nepalese laws on child rights . These girls often struggle to re-adjust to normal lives after they return home. As per Nepalese folklore, the men who marry a former kumari will die young, so many girls remain unmarried.

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