The acting and former Kumaris of Nepal

Goddess Durga
License: PD
more details: here

License: PD
more details: here

Locations of Kumaris

• Kathmandu
• Bhaktapur
• Patan
• Bungamati
• Kilagal (also Kilagar)
• Kwa Bahal
• Panauti
• Sankhu
• Tokha
• Nuwakot
• Ward 24 (Mu Baha)
• Ward 07 (Chabahil)
• Madhyapur Thimi (Thimi)

The Kumaris of Kathmandu

The Royal Kumari of Kathmandu is the most well-known of the child goddesses in Nepal and a substantial tourist attraction.

It is said, that ex-Kumaris mostly did not marry, because an old legend reports that husbands of ex-Kumaris only have a short life. Here is the legend:

• It is told that a young man married a resigned Kumari, although he was warned by his friends and relatives. A short time after the wedding he suffered suddenly from anorexia and began to spit blood. One month after the wedding he was dead.

But if one looks the following list, there is nothing to that legend.

The Kumaris of Bhaktapur

Contrary to the Kumari of Kathmandu the Kumari of Bhaktapur has substantially greater freedom. She can leave the house, meet her friends and play with them. Different to her colleagues in Kathmandu and Patan, who are tutored by a private teacher, she is allowed to visit the school together with other children.

Sajani Shakya became famous far beyond the borders of Nepal, when she did a trip with her parents to the USA in June 2007 to take part in the premiere of the documentary film "Living Goddess" at the "Silverdocs" film festival.
Because thereby she broke with the tradition by which she is not allowed to leave the country as an acting Kumari, she was defrocked. Due to public pressure she was reinstated after she had undergone a cleaning ritual after her return.

The Kumaris of Patan

The Kumari of Patan is, like her colleague in Kathmandu too, only allowed to leave the house for major festivals and is tutored by a private teacher. Indeed she lives in the house of her parents.

A characteristic of Patan is the Dhana (Dharma) Kumari. Today (2010) she is 58 years old. She also is called "The old Kumari of Patan". By the natives she is considered to be holy till this day.
A legend says that the responsible priest of the Dhana (Dharma) Kumari wanted to cancel her pension when her mandate was determined by the beginning of her menstruation. After announcing this, the priest died suddenly and unexpectedly.
The natives of Patan believe till this day that the priest was punished by the Gods for this illegal cancellation of the Kumari pension.

The Kumaris of Bungamati

In Bungamati the Kumari is exclusively selected out of the Bajracharya families. The selection process is also another one here. Kumari becomes the oldest girl of a Bajracharya family who never has shed blood before.

The Kumaris of Kilagal (also Kilagar)

The Kumari of district Kilagal is a nearly unknown Kumari, which is exclusively worshipped by the families of the Marjhans and Jyapus. She visits a regular school. Her name is kept secret and no foreigner is allowed to visit her.

The Kumaris of Kwa Bahal

Kwa Bahal is the home of the tantric priest Wak Bajra, who brought the Stupa Sigha Chaitya the whole way from Benaras to Kathmandu. After he had installed the stupa, he came to this house to spend the remainder of his life in meditation.
Although his body must have decayed long ago, nobody has entered his room until this day in order to not disturb his meditation.

This Bahal has its own Kumari, which is selected from the children of the Vajracharya families. The selection process is the same as with the Royal Kumari of Kathmandu. The Kumari in Kwa Bahal is held to be the incarnation of Vajradeva, a purely Buddhist deity.

The Kumaris of Panauti

Panauti is an ancient Newar town located about 35 km east of Kathmandu. Situated just outside the Kathmandu Valley in the Kabhrepalanchok District, it lies at an altitude of 1,550 meters. The town has a population of about 27,000 (2011) and is well worth a visit for anyone interested in Newar culture - not least because it has remained largely free from the uncontrolled construction of modern buildings. The original town of Panauti was likely founded during the reign of Ananda Malla (1274 - 1301 AD). Its primary landmark is the Indreshwar Mahadev Mandir.

The Kumaris of Sankhu

3-year-old Kumari of Sankhu at 2010-04-03
© Olga Rani
more details: here

© Olga Rani
more details: here

Sankhu, is a village in the Kathmandu valley with about 2000 inhabitants and is located about 17 km east of Kathmandu. Sankhu was the terminal of the old trade route to Tibet.

The Kumari of Sankhu shows up in the public far less than the Kumaris of Kathmandu, Lalitpur or Bhaktapur. In addition she has a special head decoration, which is adorned with the Pancha Buddha (5 Buddha) and is probably unique in this form.

The Kumaris of Tokha

Jibit, Kumari of Tokha
Mero Raja
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: WikiMedia
more details: here

Mero Raja
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: WikiMedia
more details: here

Unfortunately, currently no information

The Kumaris of Nuwakot

Unfortunately, currently no information

The Kumaris of Mu Baha (Ward 24)

The history of settlement in Ward 24 goes back to antiquity. The main bahas (monastic courtyards) here are: Mantra Siddhi Mahabihar (Sawal Baha), Mul Shree Mahabihar (Mu Baha) und Dharma Dhatu Mahabihar (Tadhan Baha)
Mu Baha is mentioned with the reference "Kumari's house" as one of the most important historical buildings of this ward.

The Kumaris of Chabahil (Ward 07)

Unfortunately, currently no information

The Kumaris of Madhyapur Thimi (Thimi)

Ayushi Bajracharya, Kumari von Madhyapur Thimi
© Aditya Bajracharya
mehr Details: hier

© Aditya Bajracharya
mehr Details: hier

Madhyapur Thimi, often referred to simply as Thimi, is one of Nepal’s oldest towns. It is situated between Kathmandu to the west and Bhaktapur to the east, along the trade route connecting Kathmandu and Tibet. According to the last census (2011), the town had a population of about 83,036, residing in 20,302 households.
In Madhyapur Thimi, located in the Bhaktapur district, efforts are underway to revive the tradition of publicly venerating the "living goddess" Kumari. Aditya Bajracharya, a cultural enthusiast, explained that this tradition - which dates back to the Malla dynasty - is being restored through the initiative of local Shakya and Bajracharya communities, alongside other involved stakeholders. According to religious beliefs, Kumari Maju is worshipped as a manifestation of Taleju Bhawani herself.
Ayushi Bajracharya, a four-year-old girl from Chapachwo—a neighborhood in Madhyapur Thimi—was appointed as the living goddess, Kumari, in 2026; she is to be venerated on Vijaya Dashami, October 20, 2026. Previously, six-year-old Abrina Bajracharya, from Yachin Baha (Hattimahankal) in Madhyapur Thimi, had been venerated as the living goddess.
Thimi Layaku (Layaku-Pahaman), the Karmacharyas, and the Bajracharyas held discussions aimed at reviving the tradition of venerating the Kumari. This initiative is intended to contribute to the preservation and promotion of the historical, religious, and cultural heritage of Madhyapur Thimi.
It is hoped that the initiative to revive the tradition of publicly venerating the "Living Goddess" Kumari will help introduce the younger generation to the indigenous culture and historical identity of Madhyapur Thimi.