Aryatara Shakya, a 2-year-old girl, has been selected as the new Kumari, or living goddess, of Nepal. On Tuesday, she was moved from her home to a temple in Kathmandu, which will now be her new residence. This tradition is observed during Dashain, Nepal’s largest festival, where Kumaris are revered as embodiments of the goddess. These young girls are chosen at a very early age, typically between 2 and 4 years old.
Aryatara succeeds Trishna Shakya, who is now 11 years old. Aryatara’s father shared that his wife had a dream during her pregnancy that their daughter would be special, and now, she has become a goddess. During festivals, Kumaris are paraded on chariots, and people seek their blessings by touching their feet. A third eye is painted on their foreheads, and they wear red clothes.