Let’s Worship a Living Goddess in the Kumari Ghar in Nepal

Located in the Durbar Square of the Nepal’s capital – Kathmandu, the Kumari Ghar is the brick edifice of three storeys where the living goddess resides. It is tough to believe so, but yes, it is a fact. The temple was constructed in 1757 by King Jaya Prakash Malla who was famous for his fear and weakness. It is said that once he offended a Kumari (a virgin young girl) due to which he repented for his terrible mistake and therefore built this sacred abode as an apology. Rejuvenated in 1966, this House of Living Goddess is famous for its divine beliefs, celestial resident, and spectacular carvings.

The Living Goddess

This is referred to the Kumari, a young girl, who is alleged to be the embodiment of the Hindu Goddess, Durga (Goddess of Power and Destroyer of Evils). In Nepal, you will find some 11 kumaris, but the Kumari Devi (Raj Kumari), the royal goddess in the capital holds much significance.

Among the Hindus and Nepalese Buddhists, the Kumari Devi is chosen among the girls of age three to five in the Buddhist Shakya clan. The elder people select only those having 32 promising divine features and whose horoscopes are matching with the current king. Then, the selected group of probable girls is then sited in a dark room packed with frightening buffalo heads and hopping men with demon covers. Now, the small girl with no fear for all this is considered to be the manifestation of Goddess Durga. Finally, the girl is asked to pick the attire of her ancestor.

After this, the Kumari resides in the Kumari Ghar where people worship her as a living goddess. Spending time in studying and performing spiritual rituals, her requirements and her caretakers are fully taken care of by the Nepalese government. Utmost care is taken that her feet never touches the ground and that she only comes out of the home during festivals.

The living Kumari is designated a mortal status when she menstruates or loses blood due to any factor. This initiated a look for another Kumari. She leaves the Kumari Ghar and is looked after by a reserved pension. However, her marriage would be difficult, as it is traditionally believed that a man marrying an ex-Kumari dies in his young age.

The Temple

The Kumari Ghar is lavishly adorned with wooden reliefs of gods and signs. You are allowed to go into the courtyard and can wonder at some wonderful reliefs on the doors, pillars, and near the windows. However, be careful in photography as you are only permitted to take your own and of the reliefs. Do not even try to take a photo of the Kumari, in case you see here.

If you are lucky, you can see the goddess in one of the windows on the first floor where she answers the questions of her followers only through the facial expressions. This is mostly possible in the morning or late afternoon.

Festivals

Indra Jatra is the festival of utmost significance here that marks the harvest in late August or early September. On its third day, a procession of the Living Goddess through a chariot is held around the Durbar Square. You can see this chariot at the next door to the Kumari Ghar.