http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue215/indra_jatra.htm

with all due respect to our culture, i am just stating my point of view on kumari..

i think this whole idea of kumari should be abloshied, all it does is captures freedom of a little girl, forbids her to be like a normal girl..this kumari thing is nonsense, very child should get to live their life as a "CHILD" not a freaking god....

nice article there ..tho..thax for posting the link

It is one of the many nonsense practices present in our culture. Just like "Sati Jane," it should also be abolished. Total waste of one's life, childhood, and freedom.

i disagree. Indrajatra is our culture. Its just that people need to realize that "marrying a kumari is a curse" is just a myth. Kumari should be allowed to live a normal life. Look at the poor girl, she is treated as a godess in her tender age, but left to die alone. People know this is a myth, yet they still are afraid to bypass it. But i dont agree kuamri system should be abolished.

kumari does get private education in her home doesnt she?

is she crying?

i don't think we should abolish any of our cultural practices because it is the core roots of our identity that separates us from the rest of the world...having that said i am all for modifying a lot of our cultural practices because i think it is about time we also start modifying our identity in the current world cause i see a lot of stereotypes and negativity.

As i'm a nepAlien (meaning nepalese who was born and grow up in a foreign country), i was so amazed and fascinated with the Indra Jatra festival when i was there in Kathmandu years back ago. I had no idea that nepali people do celebrate lot of different kinds of festivals beside Dashain. And the photo of the KUMARI do mesmerized me whenever i look at it, even today. It's really something unique that i have ever seen in my whole life and i'm damn proud of it. But after hearing the real story about the KUMARI, it really ached my heart. However i still do agree with "happy_by_choice", that none of cultures should be abolished but instead it should be reformed and adjusted to fit into the new generation. Our cultures are the root of our identity and the heritage of the nation. It's really a great honour to be selected as a "KUMARI". But it's also time to set new rules and regulations. Compared to our ancestor, parents today are more educated and wiser. They know that nothing good will come out of being KUMARI rather than just receiving honour and respect while she is still on the throne. But life is not that all....she need more than that to survive in today's world once she is out from the throne. Maybe it was not a need in the olden time but not any more. They have to realise that as time past by, lots of things are also changing and the need and demand of human are also increasing as the world is getting competitive. That's why now-a-days many parents are not willing to give their daughter as a KUMARI. That's also another sad story. Is Indra Jatra going to meet it's dead end soon. But i'm sure if the the government look into this issues more serious and amend new rules and regulation by giving more facilities, education, more pension and more visiting time for the parents of the young KUMARI who also needs lots of love and tender from her parents like everyone of us, then i guess everyone will be more willing to give their daugther as a KUMARI. She shoud be also brought up in such a way that after leaving the throne she would be able to face the world with confident and dignity. And here we are not talking about any ordinary girl but a KUMARI whom all of us worship as a GODDESS.

Taking a child away from her parents and growing her up in the deprivation of their love and care is inhumane.
I do agree that there should be reforms to fit the interest of both the parents and the child involved. But from the process of choosing kumari to the end of her goddesshood, her human rights have been so violated that if there should be such a reform that maintains both her rights to freedom and the meaning of her goddesshood, then it would be a difficult taks.
So from my point of view, we should end this crap. I don't mean end Indra Jatra but the practice of Kumari.

Though I don't belong to the affeted comminuty, i do feel this pratice is very primtive and unfair for "kumari child".

It is no doubt a pratice that has been carried for many years and one of many which gives a sense of identity to Nepal.

In this 21st centuary, primitive pratices which does not make sense/is not relevant or is cruel should be abolished or modify to suit the current situation.Relevant authority should give a serious thought regarding this issue so as to ensure that the "kumari's" futue is not ruined.

I think making Kumari to girls is very bad. She is not sent to school and she is put in that Hanuman dhoka, I hear she is not allowed to go out and play with friends. People are spoiling a girl's life and is being happy in the name of dharma. Bad people. They should all be beaten with stick.

Touch_the _Sky, I agree with what you said.But I think thats a harsh punishment !!! Why not abolish the practice for once and all.

Yes I also like the idea. I think they should stop it and if they do not agree then they should be punished. Spoiling people's life in the name of religion is very bad.

I think it is a very difficult to come to a conclusion in this topic.On one side you have to preserve culture and on the other side you wonder what the girl is going through. Ofcourse it will be hard for the girl to be strict and lose her normal childhood and be a goddess...

I heard somewhere that after the girl is done being Kumari her life becomes terribly weird..I hope they do something about it even if they dont abolish the entire thing..

casey, to clear your confusion.There is a myth that if anyone marries a kumari, he will die very shortly. So, its like a curse people think. So, kumari will have to live rest of her life single. thats sad. Also if the kumari bleeds, have a wound, have a puberty she looses the prestige of being kumari immeidtely and new kumari is chosen. Also it will be a mental shock to her after being living like a princess all the sudden live a normal life. so, in that sense kumari system is bad. Otherwise, it has been our long culture. i dont think we should abolish it but ammend it so it is less mean to the kumari herself.

a newar