Aryatara Shakya of Itumbahal in Kathmandu has been selected to serve as the new Kumari, continuing the revered tradition of the city’s living goddess.
According to the auspicious time set for the ritual, she will formally ascend the Kumari’s throne on Tuesday between 12:05 pm and 12:16 pm. The outgoing Kumari, Trishna Shakya, will be accorded a ceremonial farewell accompanied by traditional music.
Two-and-a-half-year-old Aryatara was chosen from the list of candidates submitted to the Shakya Mahavihar Association following a public call for nominations.
The association invited all 15 Bahals (monastic courtyards) in the city to propose eligible names. From these nominations, Aryatara Shakya was selected in accordance with longstanding customs and in consultation with the Guthi Sansthan, the Panchang Committee and the official selection panel.
The Kumari is venerated as a living goddess in Nepal’s rich cultural and religious heritage, and her selection is a significant ceremonial event for the Kathmandu Valley.
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Title: Two-and-a-Half-Year-Old Aryatara Shakya Named as New Kumari of Kathmandu
Aryatara Shakya from Itumbahal, Kathmandu, has been named as the city’s new Kumari, taking on the sacred role of the living goddess in Nepal’s centuries-old tradition.
She is scheduled to take her seat on the Kumari’s throne on Tuesday between 12:05 pm and 12:16 pm, the auspicious time determined for the ritual. The outgoing Kumari, Trishna Shakya, will receive a ceremonial farewell featuring traditional musical accompaniment.
The two-and-a-half-year-old was selected after the Shakya Mahavihar Association issued a call for nominations, reviewing the names submitted by the community.
The association wrote to 15 Bahals (monastic courtyards) across Kathmandu requesting nominations. Aryatara’s name was chosen following traditional criteria and in consultation with the Guthi Sansthan, the Panchang Committee and the selection panel.
The role of Kumari, honoured as a living goddess, remains an enduring and highly revered aspect of Nepal’s cultural and religious life.