Two weeks ago, Aryatara Shakya was an ordinary two-year-old girl playing happily at home in Kathmandu. Today, she is Nepal’s youngest living goddess, the Royal Kumari, worshipped by tens of thousands as a living embodiment of divine power. The journey from playful toddler to revered deity is ancient, deeply spiritual, and steeped in tradition, a transformative path her proud parents, Ananta and Pratishta, now live and breathe every day.
“She was just my daughter yesterday,” Ananta, her father, recalls. “She loved dancing around the house, playing, singing traditional Newari songs, and colouring.” But on September 30, during Dashain, Nepal’s longest and most sacred Hindu festival Aryatara underwent a rigorous and mystical selection process that marked the start of her divine transformation.
The sacred and fearless selection
The title Kumari means “virgin” or “princess” in Sanskrit, and the Kumari is believed to be the earthly incarnation of the warrior goddess Taleju, revered by Hindus and Buddhists alike. But becoming a Kumari is no simple honour given lightly. The chosen girl must belong to the Newar Shakya caste and meet the 32 perfections of a goddess, including physical traits poetically described as “eyelashes like a cow’s,” “a voice as soft as a duck’s,” and a “body like a banyan tree.”
Crucially, the little girl must display calm fearlessness. During a chilling trial, she is brought into a darkened room containing the severed heads of buffaloes and goats while masked men dance around. Aryatara did not flinch. Passing this test is a rite of passage, proving that the goddess spirit has taken residence. The final confirmation is choosing the personal items of the previous Kumari from a collection, which Aryatara did flawlessly.
After passing, she was carried from her family home to the Kumari Ghar, her new palace in Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, a UNESCO world heritage site. The walk, usually 15 minutes, took one and a half hours as crowds showered flowers and offerings, celebrating a momentous day with closed schools and offices. Her parents cried tears of joy and grace, knowing their daughter’s life would never be the same.
Life as a living goddess
From this point forward, Aryatara is worshipped for her divine presence. Unable to leave her palace except on sacred days, she will live there until puberty, when her menstrual cycle marks the goddess’s departure. During this time, she will be showered, fed, and attended to by a dedicated staff in strict ritual cleanliness. Even her kitchen has a separate tap reserved just for her. Her feet will never touch the outside ground; when leaving her home on holy occasions, she will be carried in a chariot.
The Kumari’s expressions are seen as omens, if she weeps or rubs her eyes, it can forewarn disasters or upheaval. Though some critics question the psychological impact of such a life on children, many former Kumaris speak positively of their experience. Aryatara’s parents remain reassured, emphasising that she will experience the wider world vicariously through technology, social media, and their constant support.
The Kumari tradition, dating back to the 17th century, maintains Nepal’s mystical connection to divine feminine power and is an enduring testament to the country’s rich cultural heritage. The transformation of a two-year-old girl into a goddess is both a profound spiritual journey and a poignant reflection of Nepal’s living history. For Aryatara and her family, it is the beginning of an extraordinary chapter of devotion, reverence, and wonder.
