Did you know that Nepal has a young girl called the living goddess Kumari? For Hindus, who make up the majority of Nepal, she is a being who embodies goddesses such as Durga, Taleju, and Kali, and for Buddhists, she is a being who embodies goddesses such as Tara, Vasundhara, and Vajradevi, and is deeply revered by the Newar people.
The most famous is the Royal Kumari, who lives in the Kumari house in Dalbhat Square, the royal palace square in the capital, Kathmandu. When Nepal was once a monarchy, the king would visit the Kumari on the last day of the great festival known as Indrajatra, kneel before her, and receive a tika from her, which she does not normally use, on her left hand, demonstrating to the people his right to rule the country.
Even today, the Royal Kumari still lives in the Kumari house, and appears outside in formal attire only 13 times a year. The Kumari is selected from the Sakya clan, a clan believed to be descendants of Buddha and known for their gold and silver work. Only girls who meet certain criteria, such as meeting 32 physical characteristics called Batisurakchen and being under favorable astrological conditions, are chosen as Kumari. To avoid blood impurity, the Kumari retires at the time of her first period, and a new Kumari is chosen.
In addition to Royal Kumaris, there are also Local Kumaris, each unique to a particular region. During the late Malla period, the three cities of Bhaktapur, Kathmandu (Kantipur), and Patan (Lalitpur) flourished as royal capitals, and each had its own Royal Kumari. The Kumaris of Bhaktapur and Patan are now known as Local Kumaris, but as they were formerly Royal Kumaris, they hold a somewhat special place among them.
The Kumari in Bungamati play a major role in welcoming the rain god Machhendranath (Karunamaya), and are thought to hold an important position in history. There is also a Kumari in Nuwakot, a town perched on a high hill a bit far from Kathmandu. This was the base of operations for King Shah, who conquered the Malla dynasty, when he conquered Kathmandu. The royal square, Dalbhat Square, and royal palace that King Shah established remain to this day. The area is also home to a married living deity couple called Dhami and Dhamini, and Kumari has a deep connection to them and have their own unique personalities.
We know that there are several other local Kumaris in the Kathmandu Valley, but recently there have been some who became extinct around 2022, others who have been resurrected, Kumaris who only live for one day, and even a young girl from the family who is prayed for as Kumari during the festival celebrating the goddess Durga, known as Dashain. It is very difficult to know where and when a Kumari is, or what kind of being she is.
I became intrigued and decided I had no choice but to research it myself, so I visited Nepal for the first time in September 2024, where I was able to meet 10 Kumaris. I then visited Nepal in April 2025 and September 2025 to research Kumaris, confirm the existence of new Kumaris, observe the Kumari changing ceremony, and enjoy the festivals in which Kumaris appear.
In 2024, I held a “Photo Exhibition of 10 Kumaris" at Dalbhat Shokudo restaurant in Tanimachi, Osaka, and also held a Kumari photo exhibition at the 1st Nepal Festival. And “Nepal: A Country with a Unique Nature and Diverse Culture." sponsored by the Nepal Embassy and Tourism Bureau, and at the 12th Hoonko Lecture at Sorayama Saikoji Temple, In 2025, my Kumari photos were on permanent display at the Nepal Pavilion at the Kansai-Osaka Expo until the final day.
I would like to continue visiting Nepal to research Kumaris, experiencing Nepalese culture and sharing it in Japan, at first.

とくいさとし

I hadn’t been abroad for nearly 20 years, but I decided to go to Nepal for the first time in 2024. Using my poor English, I met the living goddesses, the Kumari, experienced Nepalese festivals, and had the opportunity to connect with the people of Nepal.
To date, I have written a book about Kumari, held photo exhibitions, and held talks. If you would like to hear me talk about Kumari, please come by during one of my exhibitions or contact me.

If you need contact with me, please connect to tiktok, bellow this page, or facebook. My facebook account name is “1000kidsart".