We are in the courtyard of the House of the Kumari. Our guide is holding a picture of the previous living goddess. The current one was chosen recently, she is 3 1/2 years old now.

On the date this was taken, Oct. 22, 2008, she had only been chosen 15 days ago.

To be a living goddess – 32 different physical characteristics
-something like a lion, eyelash like a cow, small delicate tongue, clear serious voice, very lustrous complexion, and her horoscope must be the same as the present king.

To be a living goddess she must be from Sakya (Buddhist) community but once she comes into temple she becomes a Hindu goddess (interplay between Buddhism and Hinduism). She no longer lives with her family. The Buddha was from the sakya family.

(cont'd next picture...)