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06-11-2014, 12:04 PM
The real-life goddesses whose feet don't touch the ground: Inside the bizarre world of Nepalese child deities who live in temples and are forbidden from WALKING until they reach puberty
The 'living goddesses' are chosen as infants and adored by thousands of Hindus and Buddhists until menstruation
The Kumaris are an incarnation of the goddess Kali and are seen as protectors from evil and a bestower of good luck
The young girls are sheltered away - and cannot go to school - until they are required at festivals and processions
By STEPH COCKROFT
PUBLISHED: 16:29 GMT, 10 June 2014 | UPDATED: 18:16 GMT, 10 June 2014
In most communities around the world, goddesses are symbolic of a spiritual world. But in Nepal, these sacred females live and breathe.
Handpicked from birth, these pre-pubescent girls are known as Kumaris and are believed to be incarnations of the Hindu Goddess of Power, Kali.
From the moment they are chosen for their role, and pass a rigorous 32-stage test, these living goddesses are propelled to immortal-like status, deemed to be protectors from evil by thousands of adoring Hindus and Buddhists.
But for these girls, it is not just a name and status that they are given - their whole life changes.
Kumaris - which means virgin in Nepalese - are forced to leave their homes and are hidden away in temples as a living deity, only able to leave when they are required at festivals and processions as the subject of worship.
These Kumaris are even considered too special to walk, instead being carried in chariots, thrones and other people's arms - sometimes meaning they do not learn to walk until they retire.
And the girls are banned from going to school or taking part in day-to-day society, only appearing outside their homes or temples up to 13 times a year.
But once they reach puberty, everything changes for these Kumaris. After menstruation starts, the girls are put through a 12-day 'Gufa' ritual, after which their life as a Kumari ends - and they return to an ordinary life that they have never known.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/10/article-0-1EA0A96E00000578-572_964x640.jpg
Kumaris are chosen as infants in Nepal to become living goddesses, who are then worshipped by thousands of Hindus and Buddhists until they reach puberty. Here, one Kumari, Samita Bajracharya, is worshipped by a devotee at a festival during one of her nine public appearances throughout the year
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/10/article-0-1EA0AB9B00000578-449_964x670.jpg
The Kumaris spend their public appearances sitting in front of devotees or their offering. This ceremony was a special puja at Kumari Ghar in Patan, Nepal
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/10/article-0-1EA0A88300000578-581_964x659.jpg
During the year, the Kumaris are placed on traditional thrones as worshippers take part in festivals to pay their respects to the living goddesses
More pics:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2654161/The-real-life-goddesses-feet-touch-ground-Incredible-images-incarnated-Nepalese-virgins-live-temples-school-forbidden-walking-reach-puberty.html#ixzz34KbAoWMl
The 'living goddesses' are chosen as infants and adored by thousands of Hindus and Buddhists until menstruation
The Kumaris are an incarnation of the goddess Kali and are seen as protectors from evil and a bestower of good luck
The young girls are sheltered away - and cannot go to school - until they are required at festivals and processions
By STEPH COCKROFT
PUBLISHED: 16:29 GMT, 10 June 2014 | UPDATED: 18:16 GMT, 10 June 2014
In most communities around the world, goddesses are symbolic of a spiritual world. But in Nepal, these sacred females live and breathe.
Handpicked from birth, these pre-pubescent girls are known as Kumaris and are believed to be incarnations of the Hindu Goddess of Power, Kali.
From the moment they are chosen for their role, and pass a rigorous 32-stage test, these living goddesses are propelled to immortal-like status, deemed to be protectors from evil by thousands of adoring Hindus and Buddhists.
But for these girls, it is not just a name and status that they are given - their whole life changes.
Kumaris - which means virgin in Nepalese - are forced to leave their homes and are hidden away in temples as a living deity, only able to leave when they are required at festivals and processions as the subject of worship.
These Kumaris are even considered too special to walk, instead being carried in chariots, thrones and other people's arms - sometimes meaning they do not learn to walk until they retire.
And the girls are banned from going to school or taking part in day-to-day society, only appearing outside their homes or temples up to 13 times a year.
But once they reach puberty, everything changes for these Kumaris. After menstruation starts, the girls are put through a 12-day 'Gufa' ritual, after which their life as a Kumari ends - and they return to an ordinary life that they have never known.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/10/article-0-1EA0A96E00000578-572_964x640.jpg
Kumaris are chosen as infants in Nepal to become living goddesses, who are then worshipped by thousands of Hindus and Buddhists until they reach puberty. Here, one Kumari, Samita Bajracharya, is worshipped by a devotee at a festival during one of her nine public appearances throughout the year
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/10/article-0-1EA0AB9B00000578-449_964x670.jpg
The Kumaris spend their public appearances sitting in front of devotees or their offering. This ceremony was a special puja at Kumari Ghar in Patan, Nepal
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/10/article-0-1EA0A88300000578-581_964x659.jpg
During the year, the Kumaris are placed on traditional thrones as worshippers take part in festivals to pay their respects to the living goddesses
More pics:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2654161/The-real-life-goddesses-feet-touch-ground-Incredible-images-incarnated-Nepalese-virgins-live-temples-school-forbidden-walking-reach-puberty.html#ixzz34KbAoWMl