Nepal's Kumari, Aryatara Shakya: Living Goddess, Isolated Childhood, Criticism From Child Activists

Nepal is slowly and steadily moving towards normality, after the end of Gen Z-led protests that kept the country on a standstill for weeks. The streets are no longer filled with tear gas, and after a long time, we are witnessing trustworthy communication between the people and the government. Amidst the return to normal, Nepalese people witnessed joy and immense happiness during the enthronement ceremony of Nepal's new living goddess, "Kumari".

Nepal's new Kumari, Aryatara Shakya: The 2-Year-Old living goddess worshipped by the Hindus and Buddhists

The historic ceremony took place on September 30, 2025, at Kumari Ghar in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. According to multiple reports, thousands of devotees attended the ceremony to seek the blessings of their new Kumari. As soon as the details of the ceremony made their way on the internet, it spread like wildfire on global news trends. The name of Nepal's new Living Goddess, Kumari, is Aryatara Shakya, and she is now trending on almost every social media platform worldwide.

People are curious about this centuries-old tradition and have several questions, which they're asking on social media. In this piece, we will address most of those queries in detail. Before we move forward, it is essential to note that Nepal's Kumari tradition is among the world's most unique spiritual practices. It is believed that she embodies the goddess Taleju (Durga), and she will be worshipped until puberty.

What is a Kumari (Living Goddess)? Beliefs and history of Nepal's unique tradition of worshipping a prepubescent girl

Nepal's tradition of worshipping prepubescent girls is more than 2,300 years old, and as per some alleged historical records, the worship of Kumari first appeared around the 13th century. However, the modern tradition of the Living Goddess is traced back to the Malla Dynasty. The goddess status ends once the Kumari hits puberty. It is believed that the divine spirit leaves Kumari's body when her menstruation begins. After this, she is dethroned, and a new prepubescent girl from the Shakya clan of the Nepali Newari Buddhist community sits on the throne.

Who is Aryatara Shakya? Know about the selection process they went through to replace Trishna Shakya as Nepal's new Kumari

Aryatara Shakya has replaced former living goddess, Trishna Shakya (now aged 11), as Nepal's new Kumari on September 30, 2025. The new Kumari is 2 years and 8 months old and belongs to the elite Shakya lineage. During the Hindu festival of Indra Jatra, Aryatara's father, Ananta Shakya, spoke about his daughter being crowned as Nepal's new Kumari. In a conversation with news agency AP, the emotional father said:

"She was just my daughter yesterday, but today she is a goddess. Dreamed that she was a goddess and we knew she was going to be someone very special."

Regarding the selection process, Aryatara underwent a rigorous procedure conducted by a group of Buddhist Vajracharya priests and Hindu priests. Some of the credentials a girl must possess to become a Kumari include that her horoscope must align with Taleju (Durga), she must possess 32 attributes of perfection, be courageous, and belong to the Shakya or Bajracharya clans of the Newar community. According to reports, Aryatara Shakya fulfilled all these criterias and was therefore crowned as Nepal's new Kumari.

Why do child rights groups criticise Nepal's Kumari tradition? Here's a look into the life of a living goddess Kumari

There's a lot of buzz on social media about Nepal's new Kumari, Aryatara Shakya, being said to possess some divine powers. While there's no concrete evidence to prove it, people still believe that just by looking at her and touching her feet brings good fortune. While Nepal's Kumari tradition is receiving widespread praise on social media, several child rights activists have been raising their voices against it. For decades, activists have speculated that a Kumari spends the most critical years of her life in isolation.

The activists also claimed that a Kumari isn't allowed to touch the ground and she is transported via palanquin for festivals. Not only this, but even family visits are formalised as per child rights groups. For the uninitiated, before 2008, Kumaris were denied the opportunity to attend school. Child rights activists raised concern about this as they clearly stated that Kumaris are living an isolated childhood that is damaging their mental health and stopping their brains from developing. As a result, after 2008, Kumaris received private tuition. On the other hand, Nepali people defend their traditional practices, referring to them as a vital part of Nepal's cultural heritage.

What are your thoughts on Nepal's centuries-old tradition of worshipping prepubescent girls? Do you agree with the concerns raised by the child activist groups? Let us know.  

Also Read: Who Is Sushila Karki? Nepal Gen-Z Protesters Want Ex-Chief Justice To Lead The Interim Government

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)