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MM8303 Kumaris

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Smriti Bajrcharya, 7, the Kumari of Bungmati, sits on her throne during one of the many auspicious days when she is worshiped. However, four days after the devastating earthquake in April, she lost one of her upper teeth while playing with friends, resulting in her immediate termination as kumari. It’s believed that the spirit of the goddess, the shakti, that enters the girl’s body when she becomes a kumari, will leave her if she loses any blood. While some in the community fear her tooth loss means bad luck, her family believes the earthquake forced the goddess to leave her body.

Filename
MM8303_141001_13692_RT.tif
Copyright
Stephanie Sinclair
Image Size
5760x3840 / 63.3MB
Contained in galleries
Nepal's Living Goddesses
Smriti Bajrcharya, 7, the Kumari of Bungmati, sits on her throne during one of the many auspicious days when she is worshiped. However, four days after the devastating earthquake in April, she lost one of her upper teeth while playing with friends, resulting in her immediate termination as kumari. It’s believed that the spirit of the goddess, the shakti, that enters the girl’s body when she becomes a kumari, will leave her if she loses any blood. While some in the community fear her tooth loss means bad luck, her family believes the earthquake forced the goddess to leave her body.