Monday 28Jan2002
Culture Shock's Edition
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Now... Have you heard about the "Kumari" of Nepal?
The "Kumari is Nepal's living goddess. Once chosen, the
girl's feet will never touch the earth anymore until she is
retired from the position.
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The Kumari is not born a goddess nor does she remain one all
her life. She is usually chosen from a goldsmith family when
she is about five years old. And will be retired when she
reaches puberty.
To be selected, it is essential that she has been never hurt
or shed blood.
After careful screening by a number of people, including the
astrologer the selected candidates, about ten candidates are
locked in a dark room where fearful things are kept inside
and frightening noises are made outside. The girl who shows
least fear is selected.
She is installed on a throne in a room in a three-storeyed
house in Kathmandu, the Capital city of Nepal. She will be
living there and never touch the earth again until she reaches
puberty. Then the Kumari becomes human once more and a new
Goddess must be chosen.
The selected friends and teachers are sent up the house to
entertain and educate the Kumari.
For three days during each September at the time of festival
of God Indra marking the end of the mansoon seasons the
Kumari is taken by chariot around Kathmandu to give blessing.
She also blesses the king of Nepal on this occasion. It is
said that the Kumari gave her blessing to one king very
reluctantly in the year that he died. People said that she
was feeling very sleepy and had to be literally forced to
mark his forehead (for blessing).
There is a belief that a man who marries an ex-Kumari may
die within six months. And that's why many of the ex-Kumaris
are living their lives miserably lonely.
Some ex-Kumaris and International organizations are now
debating the "Human-Rights" issue with the Nepali Government.
But since it's a belief and the parents take it the pride of
the family to have their girls chosen, it's probably almost
impossible to change.
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More:
We mentioned above about the Hindu God Indra. God Indra (his
body is green -- I guess it's to resemble the fertility of
a land) is the God who takes care of our well-beings.
It is said that whenever there is a disaster on earth, his
seat/bed will turn so hard that the god cannot ignore it.
Then he'll use his magical glasses to search who is in pain
or where's the disaster, and come down (or send somebody) to
help.
This is from what we know in Thailand. The myth could be
slightly different in India and Nepal. Similar to how the
Greeks and Romans believed in the same gods but different
names and sometimes also in different manners.
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