Nepal looks for girl to serve as new "living goddess"

By Gopal Sharma

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Religious authorities in Nepal have begun the search for a girl who could be as young as three or four to serve as the new Kumari, or the virgin "living goddess", in a centuries-old tradition.

Astrologers were consulting horoscopes of candidates from Buddhist Shakya families to replace the current Kumari, Preeti Shakya, who is 11 and should retire during the annual Hindu festival of Dasain in October, temple officials said.

"If we don't change her now, we'll have to wait until next year which could be late," said Deepak Bahadur Pandey, a senior official of the state-run Trust Corporation that oversees the country's cultural matters.

"If the girl starts menstruating while serving as Kumari, it is considered inauspicious," Pandey told Reuters on Tuesday.

Under the Kumari tradition, a girl selected from a Buddhist Newar family goes through a rigorous cultural process and becomes the "living goddess".

She is considered by many as an incarnation of the powerful deity Kali and is revered until she menstruates, after which she must return to the family and a new one is chosen.

Pandey said the keepers in Kathmandu's elaborately carved wooden temple where the "goddess" lives, have already started the secret selection process.

The "Kumari" must have perfect eyes, teeth, hair and must not have even a small scratch to her skin.