Kumari - Literally 'virgin', a young girl who is regarded as the incarnation of the Hindu goddess Taleju; remains only in her divine state until she has lost the first drop of blood, either by a wound or her first menstruation; at any given time there are several Kumaris in the cities of the Kathmandu Valley. The Kumari is chosen from the Shakya caste of the Nepalese Newari community.

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Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
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Keywords: 1998, asia, asian, chaweewan, child, chuchuay, clothing, costume, girl, goddess, hindu, hinduism, kathmandu, kumari, living, nepal, nepalese, newari, patan, photograph, religion, shakya, taleju, throne, tika, valley, virgin