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]]>Following the ages-old tradition of selecting young girls for ‘living goddess’ throne, Nepali citizens have now selected a three-year old girl, Trishna Shakya, as their next Kumari of Kathmandu, as the manifestation of Goddess Taleju.
The new girl was selected after her predecessor crossed the puberty period, which the Nepalese consider for naming a girl as Kumari.
As per the tradition, Trishna Shakya will take over as the new Kumari in a ceremony on September 28, 2017, where she will be taken from her family to further live in a palace in Kathmandu’s ancient Durbar Square and would be looked after by the specially-appointed caretakers.
“She will take her place on the Kumari’s throne after we perform prayers and tantric rituals,” says Uddhav Man Karmacharya, a Hindu priest.
According to Uddhav, Trishna was selected from among four aspiring candidates.
Once anointed as the living goddess, Trishna will be paraded across the capital in ceremonial attire and makeup required for the worship.
When outside, Trishna will be carried as she would be the goddess and her feet shouldn’t touch the ground.
Once holding the throne, Trishna will be allowed to go home only for 13 times in a year on special feast days.
The girls aspiring to become Kumaris have to pass through some strict selection criteria, which demands physical attributes, such as a chest like a lion and thighs like a deer.
Even after passing the above criteria, the final winner should have to prove her courage at the time of buffalo sacrifice offered in front of her.
This tradition has been criticised by various child rights activists, who argued that Kumaris are denied childhood and isolated from the society.
In response to the concerns, the Nepali Supreme Court (SC) (in 2008) ruled that the living goddesses should be offered necessary education.
Following SC ruling, the system continues to be in place till date, wherein the living goddess is allowed to be taught and write exams inside the palace.
One can witness the uniqueness of the worship offered to the living goddess during the famous Nepali festival
Kanya Puja, celebrated annually on the Krishna Janmashtami day.
Devotees offer special prayers to the living goddess on the Kanya Puja day, where young pre-pubescent girls are worshipped as the manifestation of highly-revered Goddess Chandeswori.
The outgoing Kumari named Matine Shakya was anointed in 2008 at the similar age of three years.
Kumaris are usually selected from the Shakya or Bajracharya clan of the Nepalese Newari community.
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]]>The post Kanya Puja, A Festival Where Young Girls Worshipped appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
]]>The uniqueness of this festival is that young pre-pubescent girls are considered as the manifestation of highly-revered Goddess Chandeswori and offered similar prayers on the festival day.
These girls considered for worship are called Kumaris and are usually selected from the Shakya or Bajracharya clan of the Nepalese Newari community.
This annual festival begins with the traditional bands playing Dhime Baaja, Kushle Baaja and Manandhar Baaja, among others.
Then the devotees start with worship of Lord Ganesha and a young boy representing Lord Kumar. After that, devotees move on to worship every girl taking part in the festival with vermillion, pampering with oil massage on the scalp and then offer gifts and delicious dishes.
Gifts and blessings form the interesting aspects of the festival. Devotees offer local dishes such as malpuwa and noodles, swari, sel, biscuits, chocolates, money, clothes, among others to Kumaris.
Historian Jnan Kaji Manandhar says, “It’s the unparalleled faith of people in the powers of goddess Chandeswori that enables them to conduct this practice each year as they think the girls are a manifestation of the goddess.”
Kanya Puja 2017 Saw 8,000 Participants
Kanya Puja, this year, witnessed a participation of around 8,000 young girls from Kavre and other neighboring districts. As part of the festival, devotees worshipped girls in queues from Bholakha Tol of Banepa to Chardobato, covering a total distance of 4 km.
Secretary of the Kanya Puja Organization Committee SurKrishna Baidhya, who has been inaugurating the event for more than 30 years, says, “Banepa has never failed to organize this annual festival since its inception.”
Prashima Awale, an engineering student studying in New Delhi, India said, “I grew up either being worshipped as a Kumari, or worshipping other young girls as one. Postponing my ticket for a couple of days to participate in this year’s Kumar Puja is no surprise for my family.”
“At first, I was hesitant to make my daughter participate because there were so many Newar community people taking part, but I and my daughter’s pleasant experience during last year’s Puja prompted me to bring her again this year to receive blessings and gifts,” said Prietee Gupta, a housewife who shifted to Banepa from Biratnagar last year.
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]]>Public in and around Banepa, Kavrepalanchok District celebrated the 115th edition of Kanya Puja, an annual tradition of worshipping pre-pubescent girls, on August 14, 2017.
Kanya Puja, annually observed on the day of Krishna Janmastami, this year witnessed a participation of 8000 young girls from Kavre and other neighboring districts.
As the traditional bands played Dhime Baaja, Kushle Baaja and Manandhar Baaja, among others marked the beginning of the Puja, devotees started with worshipping of Lord Ganesha and a young boy representing Lord Kumar.
Then, devotees went on to worship the girls in queues from Bholakha Tol of Banepa to Chardobato, covering a total distance of 4 kms.
As part of the festival, devotees of Goddess Chandeswori worship young girls treating them as manifestation of the goddess. Every girl is worshipped with vermillion, pampered with oil massage on the scalp and is offered gifts and delicious dishes.
Gifts and blessings form the interesting aspects of the festival. Devotees offered local dishes such as malpuwa and noodles, swari, sel, biscuits, chocolates, money, clothes, among others to the girls.
According to the Historian Jnan Kaji Manandhar, this festival is an unparalleled faith of people in the powers of Goddess Chandeswori that enables them to conduct this practice each year as they think the girls are a manifestation of the goddess.
People of various sections expressed their love for the festival.
Secretary of the Kanya Puja Organization Committee SurKrishna Baidhya, who has been inaugurating the event for more than 30 years, said Banepa has never failed to organize this annual festival since its inception.
Prashima Awale, an engineering student studying in New Delhi, India said, “I grew up either being worshipped as a Kumari, or worshipping other young girls as one. Postponing my ticket for a couple of days to participate in this year’s Kumar Puja is no surprise for my family.”
“At first, I was hesitant to make my daughter participate because there were so many Newar community people taking part, but I and my daughter’s pleasant experience during last year’s Puja prompted me to bring her again this year to receive blessings and gifts,” said Prietee Gupta, a housewife who shifted to Banepa from Biratnagar last year.
The post Kanya Puja Celebrated with Fervor appeared first on Nepali Sansar.
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