World's newest republic maintains a unique century-old culture - Nepalese girl, 3, begins life as "living goddess"

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Nepal became the world's newest republic in 2006, and in May 2008 ended the country's 240-year monarchy. However, the centuries-old Hindu-Buddhist tradition of worshipping a young virgin as the living embodiment of a powerful goddess has survived, and the Nepalese president now receives blessings from the girl - “living goddess”.

The three-year-old daughter of a Nepalese watch repairer became a "living goddess" after being approved by the country's new atheist government. Despite Nepal being a Maoist republic after the monarchy was unseated in May, the centuries-old tradition of worshipping a young virgin as the living embodiment of a powerful Hindu goddess has survived.

"Matina Shakya was chosen after consultation with Buddhist priests, community leaders and officials who will look after her," said Achyut Pokharel, a member of the government-run trust that maintains the tradition. "She became Royal Kumari after a series of pujas (religious ceremonies) today at the auspicious time of 11.39am," Pokharel said, referring to the moment chosen by astrologers as the luckiest for the Kumari succession.

Dozens of people in Kathmandu's medieval quarter joined in the procession as the young girl was carried by family members from her home to the ornate palace where she will be confined for several years. "It was very hard to make the decision to allow her to become the Kumari," her father Pratap Man Shrestha said. "I am going to miss her terribly but it is a great privilege to have a Kumari for a daughter and we are helping maintain a unique, age-old part of our culture." Tradition dictates that the Kumari must only leave her new home for festivals a few times per year.

Earlier this year, Nepal's Supreme Court ruled that Kumaris had the right to attend school but her family accepts that she will stay in the ancient palace in central Kathmandu. "She will be home schooled in the palace but we can go and meet her any time," said her father. Three-year-old Matina remained silent throughout the 10-minute procession to begin her life as a goddess and seemed unperturbed by the commotion, posing happily for pictures.

The Kumari, which means virgin, must meet 32 strict criteria as well as pass tests that include being in a room with dead sacrificed buffalo and not crying. Three towns in the Kathmandu valley follow the custom, but the Royal Kumari in the capital is considered the most powerful, and has the closest links to Nepal's deposed monarch. Former monarch Gyanenendra and his ancestors would seek annual blessings - and tacit spiritual approval of their reign - from the girl selected from the Buddhist Shakya caste.

Today, Gyanenendra is a commoner living as a virtual recluse on the outskirts of Kathmandu, and the Nepalese president now receives blessings from the girl.

Nepal became the world's newest republic after former rebel Maoists ended their civil war in 2006, and won landmark polls in April. Nepal's newly elected Constituent Assembly ended the country's 240-year monarchy and gave King Gyanendra 15 days to vacate the royal palace. Lawmakers voted 560-4 that Nepal will become "an independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular and an inclusive democratic republic nation," The Telegraph reported. The resolution also said that "all the privileges enjoyed by the king and royal family will automatically come to an end." The Narayanhiti Royal Palace is to become a museum.

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Photos courtesy of Reuters, damn coolpics, blogspot .com, and Getty Images

Original Source: Sydney Morning Herald, and UPI