The acting and former Kumaris of Nepal
Locations of Kumaris
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.
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Name
Mandate
Status
Marital status
1923 - 1931
+
oo Daughters: 2
1931 - 1933
+
oo Daughters: 2
1942 - 1949
oo Sons: 4 Daughters: 2
1949 - 1955
+
oo Sons: 1 Daughters: 1
1955 - 1961
oo Sons: 2
1969 - 1978
oo Sons: 1 Daughters: 1
1991 - 2001
+ = deceased oo = married
Source: Wikipedia - The free Encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumari) (The Kathmandu Post; Durga Shakya, Kumari Bahal)
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.← scrollen →
Name
Mandate
Status
Marital status
? - 1999
2014 - 2016
2016 - 2021
2021 - ?
+ = deceased oo = married
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.← scrollen →
Name
Mandate
Status
Marital status
1985 - 1992 ?
1992 - 2001
2014 - 2018
+ = deceased oo = married
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.← scrollen →
Name
Mandate
Status
Marital status
1996 - 1997
1997 - 1998
1998 - 2001
2007 - 2011
2011 - 2014
2014 - 2015
2015 - 2018
2018 - 2022
+ = deceased oo = married
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.← scrollen →
Name
Mandate
Status
Marital status
+ = deceased oo = married
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.
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Name
Mandate
Status
Marital status
+ = deceased oo = married
Source: http://www.planetware.com/kathmandu/kwa-bahal-nep-cn-kokb.htm (Link no longer available)
The Kumaris of Panauti
Unfortunately, currently no informationThe Kumaris of Sankhu
© Olga Rani
more details: here
more details: here
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.
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Name
Mandate
Status
Marital status
+ = deceased oo = married
The Kumaris of Tokha
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Name
Mandate
Status
Marital status
+ = deceased oo = married
The Kumaris of Nuwakot
Unfortunately, currently no informationThe Kumaris of 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.