Thursday 2 November, 2006

Living Goddess

I have always been in two minds regarding the tradition of the Kumari, a living goddess who lives in the centre of Katmandu. Certainly I've spent more than my fair share of time of hanging around here

and trying to get a glimpse of her. I once saw - or was it wishful thinking? - a flitter as a girl raced past a window. She was giggling. I thought she must have been playing chasey.

According to the BBC, 'The Supreme Court in Nepal has ordered an inquiry into whether the tradition of worshipping a "living goddess" has led to the exploitation of girls.' And while there is no doubt that it would be oppressive to live under guard in a palace - just ask Princess Kiko - in a world where there is little magic, stripping a small girl of her privleges due to very western notions of what kind of life a young girl should live seems to destroy a tradition without really offering much in return. Certainly in a country with as much poverty as Nepal I would think it is not just the Kumari's access to a fully rounded education that is in question. I think I agree with the researcher on Newari culture, Chunda Bajracharya, who argues it is not an abuse of human rights, but some modernisation of the tradition is needed. " I think some reform measures need to be put in place to ensure their right to education, sports and all-round social development as a child."