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

In most communities around the world, goddesses are symbolic of a spiritual world. But in Nepal, these sacred females live and breathe. 

 

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 

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 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

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

Samita Bajracharya, a former Kumari, can now attend classes after retiring from her goddess life 

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