The last Kumari, the Living Goddess, who retired recently was sort of a rebel in the age old Nepali tradition of worshiping little girls as goddess.

Amidst child right groups’ objection on the tradition itself, three and half year old Matina Shakya has become the new Kumari. She has become the first Kumari who was shown to the general public without being observed by the King. Traditionally Kings used to worship Kumari before she was shown to the public.

(photo – Deepesh Shrestha)