Kumari

The Kumari (Sanskrit: कुमारी, "young girl" or "unmarried"), also known as the Living Goddess, is a centuries‑old tradition in Nepal in which a prepubescent girl from the Newar community is venerated as a living embodiment of the goddess Taleju Bhawani (a form of Durga). The practice is central to the religious life of the Kathmandu Valley and draws devotees from both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. While several Kumaris exist across the valley, the most prominent is the Royal Kumari of Kathmandu, who resides in the Kumari Ghar at Durbar Square. Other important Kumaris are found in Patan, Bhaktapur, Bungamati, and other local communities.