2-year-old girl chosen as new ‘virgin goddess’ worshipped by two religions

Aryatara Shakya, the new "Living Goddess". Credit / Getty Images — Aryatara Shakya, the new “Living Goddess”. Credit / Getty Images

A two-year-old girl in Nepal has been chosen as the nation’s new “virgin goddess”, replacing an 11-year-old who lost the divine status upon reaching puberty.

Aryatara Shakya, aged two years and eight months, has become Nepal’s Kumari, or ‘Living Goddess’, having been selected after meeting a rigid set of requirements.

The tradition stretches back in the Kathmandu Valley to the 17th century, and is worshipped and honored by Nepal’s Newari people.

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, September 30, Aryatara was carried from her family home to a palace temple Kumari Ghar during Nepal’s most important Hindu festival, Dashain.

The palace will remain her residence from now until she reaches puberty. The former Kumari, 11-year-old Trishna Shakya, lost her divine status as she is nearing her first menstruation.

Despite her tender years, Aryatara will now bless devotees, dignitaries, and even Nepal’s president. According to AP, girls are chosen for the hallowed role between the ages of 2 and 4. They are required to have unblemished skin, eyes, teeth and hair, to not be afraid of the dark and always wear red.

ARYA TARA SHAKYA, 2 1/2 years old, is Nepal’s newly appointed Royal Living Goddess Kumari from Itumbahal. She is seen at her home ahead of being formally worshipped at the historic Kumari Ghar in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 29, 2025. She is formally worshipped as Royal Kumari on September 30, 2025, succeeding TRISHNA SHAKYA, who serves until reaching puberty, around age 12. The centuries-old tradition reveres the Living Goddess as an embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju, worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. (Photo by Safal Prakash Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

During festivals, Aryatara will have a “third eye” painted on her forehead and her hair will be pinned up.

If all this sounds rather alarming to readers, the two-year-old’s official duties from here on out aren’t exactly reassuring. A Kumari lives mostly in seclusion, only leaving the palace temple on certain days, while local folklore is said to warn men against marrying a former ‘Living Goddess’ after their divine stint is over, as it might bring an early death.

The new Kumari — who is chosen from the Shakya clans from the Kathmandu Valley — will be worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists.

“She was just my daughter yesterday, but today she is a goddess,” said Aryatara’s father.

ARYA TARA SHAKYA, 2 1/2 years old, Nepal’s newly appointed Royal Living Goddess Kumari from Itumbahal, is seen at her home with her father and mother ahead of being formally worshipped at the historic Kumari Ghar in Kathmandu, Nepal, on September 29, 2025. She is formally worshipped as Royal Kumari on September 30, 2025, succeeding TRISHNA SHAKYA, who serves until reaching puberty, around age 12. The centuries-old tradition sees the Living Goddess revered by both Hindus and Buddhists as an embodiment of the goddess Taleju. (Photo by Safal Prakash Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

He claims there were signs before her birth that she was destined for great things.

“My wife during pregnancy dreamed that she was a goddess, and we knew she was going to be someone very special,” he continued.

According to People Magazine, rules and restrictions relating to the tradition have been amended slightly over the past few years, in the hope that some small amount of modernization will benefit the girls chosen. The Kumari is reportedly now allowed a TV, homeschooling from private tutors and a monthly pension of about $110.