The Kumari is Nepal's living goddess – a young prepubescent girl believed to be the human incarnation of the goddess Taleju who is venerated by both Hindus and Buddhists in the Kathmandu Valley. The tradition dates to the Malla period (12th–18th centuries) and is specific to Nepal. The Royal Kumari of Kathmandu resides in the Kumari Ghar – a magnificent carved-wood palace on Kathmandu Durbar Square – and is one of the most visited cultural attractions in Nepal.
Visitors may enter the ground-floor courtyard of the Kumari Ghar. The Kumari appears at a first-floor window when requested by a priest – appearance is not guaranteed but occurs several times daily. Photography of the Kumari herself is not permitted, though the extraordinary courtyard architecture may be photographed. Important etiquette: maintain silence when the Kumari appears and bow respectfully. The Kumari also appears publicly during the Indra Jatra and Dashain festivals in her golden chariot – the most spectacular public viewing opportunities. A Kathmandu cultural tour with our Nepal Tour Advisor team includes full cultural briefing on the Kumari tradition.
Want to experience divinity in real life? Welcome to Nepal, the land of living gods and goddesses. Kumari is derived from the Sanskrit word Kaumarya,which means princess. Learn the historical significance of worshiping a girl as a goddess; be a part of the tradition that dates back to the 17th century where two of the world’s oldest religions Hinduism and Buddhism interlink.
As the selection process of a Kumari resembles that of Tibetan Lamas, like the Panchen Lama or the Dalai Lama. Visit the Kumari Ghar, situated at Basantapur, where the goddess resides and to get a glimpse of the goddess.
If you are visiting around late August or early September, then be sure to be a part of the biggest and most vibrant festival in Nepal called Indra Jatra, where the Kumari, is paraded across the city, in her golden palanquin. It is quite a sight to behold, as hundreds of masked men and devotees dance to traditional Newari music and pull on the chariots of the Lord Indra and Kumari.
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